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Lactose synthase

(Science: enzyme) An enzyme of the transferase class that catalyses the transfer of galactose from udpgalactose to glucose, forming lactose. The enzyme is a complex of the enzyme n-acetyllactosamine synthase and alpha-lactalbumin; the latter protein is present in lactating mammary gland cells where it alters the usual specificity of the former to make lactose synthesis the preferred reaction.

chemical name: UDPgalactose:D-glucose 4-beta-D-galactosyltransferase

registry number: EC 2.4.1.22