Rhamnulokinase

In enzymology, a rhamnulokinase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * ATP + L-rhamnulose $$\rightleftharpoons$$ ADP + L-rhamnulose 1-phosphate

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are ATP and L-rhamnulose, whereas its two products are ADP and L-rhamnulose 1-phosphate.

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those transferring phosphorus-containing groups (phosphotransferases) with an alcohol group as acceptor. The systematic name of this enzyme class is ATP:L-rhamnulose 1-phosphotransferase. Other names in common use include RhuK, rhamnulokinase (phosphorylating), L-rhamnulokinase, L-rhamnulose kinase, and rhamnulose kinase. This enzyme participates in pentose and glucuronate interconversions and fructose and mannose metabolism. This enzyme can catalyze the xylulose phosphorilation:

ATP + L-Xylulose $$\rightleftharpoons$$ ADP + L-Xylulose 1-phosphate

Structural studies
As of late 2007, 4 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes by Grueninger and Schulz with PDB accession codes, , , and.