Skip to main content

Epimerase Activity

Meaning

Epimerase activity refers to the catalytic function of epimerase enzymes, which are responsible for inverting the stereochemistry at a single chiral center within a molecule, effectively converting one epimer into another. In human physiology, this enzymatic activity is crucial for various metabolic pathways, particularly in the interconversion of sugar molecules necessary for energy production and the synthesis of structural components. Deficiencies or alterations in epimerase activity can lead to significant metabolic disorders.