Chitin synthase

In enzymology, a chitin synthase (EC2.4.1.16) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and , whereas its two products are UDP and .

This enzyme belongs to the family of glycosyltransferases, specifically the hexosyltransferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine:chitin 4-beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase. Other names in common use include chitin-UDP N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase, chitin-uridine diphosphate acetylglucosaminyltransferase, chitin synthetase, and trans-N-acetylglucosaminosylase. This enzyme participates in aminosugars metabolism.