This family consists of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerases EC:5.1.3.14 this enzyme catalyses the production of UDP-ManNAc from UDP-GlcNAc. Note that some of the enzymes is this family are bifunctional such as Swiss:O35826 and Swiss:Q9Z0P6 in this instance Pfam matches only the N-terminal half of the protein suggesting that the additional C-terminal part (when compared to mono-functional members of this family) is responsible for the UPD-N-acetylmannosamine kinase activity of these enzymes. This hypothesis is further supported by the assumption that the C-terminal part of Swiss:O35826 is the kinase domain [3].

1: Characterization of the gene cassette required for biosynthesis of the (alpha1-->6)-linked N-acetyl-D-mannosamine-1-phosphate capsule of serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis. Swartley JS, Liu LJ, Miller YK, Martin LE, Edupuganti S, Stephens DS; J Bacteriol. 1998;180:1533-1539. PMID:9515923

2: Staphylococcus aureus cap5O and cap5P genes functionally complement mutations affecting enterobacterial common-antigen biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. Kiser KB, Lee JC; J Bacteriol 1998;180:403-406. PMID:9440531

3: A bifunctional enzyme catalyzes the first two steps in N-acetylneuraminic acid biosynthesis of rat liver. Molecular cloning and functional expression of UDP-N-acetyl-glucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase. Stasche R, Hinderlich S, Weise C, Effertz K, Lucka L, Moormann P, Reutter W; J Biol Chem 1997;272:24319-24324. PMID:9305888