Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase explained

Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase should not be confused with N-acetyltransferase.

peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase
Ec Number:	2.3.1.88
Cas Number:	83452-29-3
Go Code:	0004596

In enzymology, a peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

acetyl-CoA + peptide

\rightleftharpoons Nalpha-acetylpeptide + CoA

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are acetyl-CoA and peptide, whereas its two products are Nalpha-acetylpeptide and CoA.

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those acyltransferases transferring groups other than aminoacyl groups. The systematic name of this enzyme class is acetyl-CoA:peptide Nalpha-acetyltransferase. Other names in common use include beta-endorphin acetyltransferase, peptide acetyltransferase, protein N-terminal acetyltransferase, NAT, Nalpha-acetyltransferase, amino-terminal amino acid-acetylating enzyme, and acetyl-CoA:peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase.

Structural studies

As of late 2007, two structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes and .

References

• Driessen HP, de Jong WW, Tesser GI, Bloemendal H . 1985 . The mechanism of N-terminal acetylation of proteins . CRC Crit. Rev. Biochem. . 18 . 281 - 325 . 3902358 . 10.3109/10409238509086784 . 4 .
• Glembotski CC . 1982 . Characterization of the peptide acetyltransferase activity in bovine and rat intermediate pituitaries responsible for the acetylation of beta-endorphin and alpha-melanotropin . J. Biol. Chem. . 257 . 10501 - 9 . 6286657 . 17 .
• O'Donohue TL . 1983 . Identification of endorphin acetyltransferase in rat brain and pituitary gland . J. Biol. Chem. . 258 . 2163 - 7 . 6296134 . 4 .
• Tsunasawa S, Kamitani K, Narita K . February 1980 . Partial purification and properties of the amino-terminal amino acid-acetylating enzyme from hen's oviduct . J. Biochem. . 87 . 645 - 50 . 6244269 . 2 . 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jbchem.a132789 .