Cellulose synthase (UDP-forming)

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In enzymology, a cellulose synthase (UDP-forming) (EC 2.4.1.12) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

UDP-glucose + (1,4-beta-D-glucosyl)n $\rightleftharpoons$ UDP + (1,4-beta-D-glucosyl)n⁺1

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are UDP-glucose and (1,4-beta-D-glucosyl)n, whereas its two products are UDP and (1,4-beta-D-glucosyl)n+1.

This enzyme belongs to the family of glycosyltransferases, specifically the hexosyltransferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is UDP-glucose:1,4-beta-D-glucan 4-beta-D-glucosyltransferase. Other names in common use include UDP-glucose-beta-glucan glucosyltransferase, UDP-glucose-cellulose glucosyltransferase, GS-I, beta-1,4-glucosyltransferase, uridine diphosphoglucose-1,4-beta-glucan glucosyltransferase, beta-1,4-glucan synthase, beta-1,4-glucan synthetase, beta-glucan synthase, 1,4-beta-D-glucan synthase, 1,4-beta-glucan synthase, glucan synthase, UDP-glucose-1,4-beta-glucan glucosyltransferase, and uridine diphosphoglucose-cellulose glucosyltransferase. This enzyme participates in starch and sucrose metabolism.