Lactose synthase
Encyclopedia
Lactose synthase is an enzyme
that generates lactose
from glucose
and UDP-galactose.
It is classified under .
It consists of N-acetyllactosamine synthase
and alpha-lactalbumin
. Alpha-lactalbumin, which is expressed in response to prolactin
, increases the affinity of N-acetyllactosamine synthase for its substrate, causing increased production of lactose
during lactation.
Enzyme
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...
that generates lactose
Lactose
Lactose is a disaccharide sugar that is found most notably in milk and is formed from galactose and glucose. Lactose makes up around 2~8% of milk , although the amount varies among species and individuals. It is extracted from sweet or sour whey. The name comes from or , the Latin word for milk,...
from glucose
Glucose
Glucose is a simple sugar and an important carbohydrate in biology. Cells use it as the primary source of energy and a metabolic intermediate...
and UDP-galactose.
It is classified under .
It consists of N-acetyllactosamine synthase
N-acetyllactosamine synthase
N-acetyllactosamine synthase is a galactosyltransferase enzyme.It is a component of lactose synthase.It is classified under ....
and alpha-lactalbumin
Alpha-lactalbumin
Lactalbumin, alpha-, also known as LALBA, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the LALBA gene.- Function :α-Lactalbumin is an important whey protein in cow's milk , and is also present in the milk of many other mammalian species...
. Alpha-lactalbumin, which is expressed in response to prolactin
Prolactin
Prolactin also known as luteotropic hormone is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PRL gene.Prolactin is a peptide hormone discovered by Henry Friesen...
, increases the affinity of N-acetyllactosamine synthase for its substrate, causing increased production of lactose
Lactose
Lactose is a disaccharide sugar that is found most notably in milk and is formed from galactose and glucose. Lactose makes up around 2~8% of milk , although the amount varies among species and individuals. It is extracted from sweet or sour whey. The name comes from or , the Latin word for milk,...
during lactation.