Ribulokinase () is an enzyme that catalyzes two chemical reactions
The enzyme characterised from Aerobacter aerogenes and Escherichia coli converts the pentose sugar, L-ribulose, to L-ribulose 5-phosphate by transferring a phosphate group from the cofactor, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is converted to adenosine diphosphate (ADP). This reaction is part of a pathway that allows these bacteria to metabolise L-arabinose.
The enzyme from Lactobacillus plantarum can also act on D-rubulose:
This enzyme is a transferase, specifically one transferring phosphorus-containing groups (phosphotransferases) with an alcohol group as acceptor. The systematic name of this enzyme class is ATP:L(or D)-ribulose 5-phosphotransferase. Other names in common use include ribulokinase (phosphorylating), and L-ribulokinase.
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