RPE
RPE (ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase) is an enzyme of the pentose-phosphate shunt that catalyses the reversible epimerisation of D-ribulose 5-phosphate to D-xylulose 5-phosphate. UniProt lists it as ribulose-phosphate 3-epimerase, and it belongs to the ribulose-phosphate 3-epimerase family. Browse Assay Genie's current range of RPE research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
RPE catalyses the reversible epimerisation of D-ribulose 5-phosphate to D-xylulose 5-phosphate. This interconversion of two pentose phosphates is a step in the pentose-phosphate shunt, and the enzyme is therefore involved in carbohydrate metabolic process. Because the reaction is reversible, the enzyme can interconvert these two sugar phosphates in either direction, depending on the needs of the cell.
The human RPE gene encodes a protein classed by UniProt in the ribulose-phosphate 3-epimerase family. NCBI Gene annotates the RPE protein with D-ribulose-phosphate 3-epimerase activity, metal ion binding activity and protein homodimerisation activity, indicating that it binds metal ions and can associate with itself to form homodimers. It is also reported to be located in extracellular exosomes. The mouse ortholog is designated Rpe, which allows comparative work in mouse systems.
The HGNC-approved name for the gene is ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase, while UniProt uses the protein name ribulose-phosphate 3-epimerase. Researchers studying the pentose-phosphate shunt, carbohydrate metabolism or the protein content of exosomes may therefore encounter RPE as a pathway enzyme. Whether working with an RPE antibody, an RPE ELISA kit or recombinant RPE protein, it helps to define the enzyme's activity and its place in pentose metabolism clearly before designing an experiment.
RPE is involved in the pentose-phosphate shunt, making it a relevant enzyme for work on this branch of carbohydrate metabolism.
RPE catalyses the reversible conversion of D-ribulose 5-phosphate to D-xylulose 5-phosphate, a defined reaction suited to biochemical characterisation.
NCBI Gene lists metal ion binding and protein homodimerisation activities, which are relevant to studies of how RPE is structured and assembled.
RPE is reported to be located in extracellular exosomes, so it is of interest when profiling the protein cargo of these vesicles.
RPE catalyses the reversible epimerisation of D-ribulose 5-phosphate to D-xylulose 5-phosphate. It is involved in the pentose-phosphate shunt and in carbohydrate metabolic process. NCBI Gene also records metal ion binding and protein homodimerisation activities for the protein.
The HGNC full name is ribulose-5-phosphate-3-epimerase, and UniProt uses ribulose-phosphate 3-epimerase. No aliases or previous symbols are listed for the gene. The enzyme carries the EC number 5.1.3.1, which is useful when searching metabolic databases and the literature.
A mouse ortholog, Rpe, is recorded for the human gene. The protein belongs to the ribulose-phosphate 3-epimerase family. Cross-species work should confirm suitability for each application, so check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other pentose-phosphate shunt enzymes and carbohydrate-metabolism targets may be listed here as further pages are added.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q96AT9; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.