From Lobry de Bruyn to enzyme-catalyzed ammonia channelling: molecular studies of D-glucosamine-6P synthase.

This review summarizes the state of knowledge on D-glucosamine-6P synthesis catalyzed by glucosamine-6P synthase. The mechanisms of L-glutamine hydrolysis, ammonia transfer and fructose-6P conversion into D-glucosamine-6P are analyzed with the E. coli enzyme in light of recent X-ray structures. With 92 references this paper covers the literature up to June 2001 and emphasizes the potential implication of the mammalian glucosamine-6P synthase in type 2 diabetes.