In
enzymology, a
xylose isomerase is an
enzyme that
catalyzes the interconversion of
D-xylose and
D-xylulose. This enzyme belongs to the family of
isomerases, specifically those intramolecular
oxidoreductases interconverting
aldoses and
ketoses. The isomerase has now been observed in nearly a hundred species of bacteria. Xylose-isomerases are also commonly called glucose-isomerases due to their extensive use in the industry to produce high fructose corn syrup from glucose. The systematic name of this enzyme class is D-xylose aldose-ketose-isomerase. Other names in common use include D-xylose isomerase, D-xylose ketoisomerase, and D-xylose ketol-isomerase.