Synthetases are enzymes involved in the synthesis of substances from monomer molecules. They belong to the class of ligases and perform the same function of binding monomers and forming more complex compounds. However, unlike ligases, synthetases are involved in the synthesis of substances by dehydrogenase methods. They are divided into several classes: enzymatic synthetases and biochemical, biomimetic and non-classical synthetases.
Enzymatic synthetases, like ligases, bind monomers and convert them into more complex molecules. Typically ATP and NAD+ are used for this purpose. This type of synthetases is commonly used in eukaryotic cells, as well as in prokaryotic cell parasites (bacteria, archaea and viruses). Among the most important types of enzymatic synthetases are pyrimidine deaminases, thymusins, glycolipid synthases, isobenzofluoronatriazine synthetases, S-adenosylmethionine ligases, and 5'-phosphodiestertarbonyl synthase.
Biomimetic synthetases are enzymatic in origin but have a different structure or function. Among the examples of biomime