It is becoming increasingly apparent that many well-known enzymes have alternative non-enzymic functions. Similarly, several proteins that were identified as having non-catalytic functions were subsequently found to have enzyme activities. Some examples are considered to illustrate the diversity of alternative functions. The semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.6) is considered in more depth as an example. It was originally believed to be a detoxifying enzyme, but the reaction products may have important signalling functions. Furthermore, this enzyme, from some sources, also behaves as a vascular-adhesion protein. Finally, the challenges posed by such multiplicity of functions for the interpretation of genetic deletion, in vivo inhibition and the development of functional protein databases are briefly considered.
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Conference Article|
June 01 2003
It can be a complicated life being an enzyme
K.F. Tipton;
K.F. Tipton
1
Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (e-mail ktipton@tcd.ie).
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M.I. O'Sullivan;
M.I. O'Sullivan
Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
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G.P. Davey;
G.P. Davey
Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
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J. O'Sullivan
J. O'Sullivan
Department of Biochemistry, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© 2003 Biochemical Society
2003
Biochem Soc Trans (2003) 31 (3): 711–715.
Citation
K.F. Tipton, M.I. O'Sullivan, G.P. Davey, J. O'Sullivan; It can be a complicated life being an enzyme. Biochem Soc Trans 1 June 2003; 31 (3): 711–715. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0310711
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