What type of enzyme transfers functional groups from one substrate to another?

The correct answer is the type of enzyme known as a transferase. Transferases are a category of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of functional groups from one molecule (the donor) to another molecule (the acceptor). These functional groups can include methyl, ethyl, phosphate, or other groups. This type of reaction is vital in many metabolic processes, as it allows for the modification of molecules, which can be essential for moving substrates through pathways or generating new compounds necessary for various biological functions.

For example, an important class of transferases are the amino transferases, which play a key role in amino acid metabolism by transferring amino groups from one amino acid to another, thus facilitating the synthesis and degradation of amino acids.

In contrast, hydrolases are enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of bonds by the addition of water, ligases are involved in the joining of two molecules with the consumption of ATP, and oxidoreductases facilitate oxidation-reduction reactions, where electrons are transferred between molecules.