Transaldolase

[3][4] The following chemical reaction is catalyzed by transaldolase: The pentose phosphate pathway has two metabolic functions: (1) generation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced NADPH), for reductive biosynthesis, and (2) formation of ribose, which is an essential component of ATP, DNA, and RNA.

The core structure is an α/β barrel, similar to other class I aldolases, made up of eight parallel β-sheets and seven α-helices.

Hydrophobic amino acids are located between the β-sheets in the barrel and the surrounding α-helices to contribute to packing, such as the area containing Leu-168, Phe-170, Phe-189, Gly-311, and Phe-315.

The lysine holds the sugar in place while the glutamate and aspartate act as proton donors and acceptors.

Hydrolysis of the Schiff base liberates free fructose 6-phosphate, one of the products of the pentose phosphate pathway.