engineering

Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase

Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase is a engineering topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase rather than just read about it. In short: In enzymology, peptide α-N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.88) were enzymes that catalyzes the chemical reaction acetyl-CoA + peptide ⇌ {\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons } Nα-acetylpeptide + CoA Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are acetyl-CoA and peptide, whereas its two products are Nα-acetylpeptide and CoA. Since 2016, the different enzymes that used to be in this class are separated into NatA-NatF (EC 2.3.1.25…

Key takeaways

Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase belongs to engineering; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In enzymology, peptide α-N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.88) were enzymes that catalyzes the chemical reaction

acetyl-CoA + peptide ⇌ {\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons } Nα-acetylpeptide + CoA Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are acetyl-CoA and peptide, whereas its two products are Nα-acetylpeptide and CoA. Since 2016, the different enzymes that used to be in this class are separated into NatA-NatF (EC 2.3.1.254 to EC 2.3.1.259). These enzymes belong 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 Nα-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 PDB: 2OB0 and PDB: 2PSW.

References

Driessen HP, de Jong WW, Tesser GI, Bloemendal H (1985). "The mechanism of N-terminal acetylation of proteins". CRC Crit. Rev. Biochem. 18 (4): 281–325. doi:10.3109/10409238509086784. PMID 3902358. 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 (17): 10501–9. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(18)34046-8. PMID 6286657. O'Donohue TL (1983). "Identification of endorphin acetyltransferase in rat brain and pituitary gland". J. Biol. Chem. 258 (4): 2163–7. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(18)32902-8. PMID 6296134. 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 (2): 645–50. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.jbchem.a132789. PMID 6244269.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In engineering, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase

In research: Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase appears in engineering research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics EC 2.3.1, EC 2.3 stubs, Enzymes of known structure, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
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Frequently asked questions

What is Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase in simple terms?

In enzymology, peptide α-N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.88) were enzymes that catalyzes the chemical reaction acetyl-CoA + peptide ⇌ {\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons } Nα-acetylpeptide + CoA Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are acetyl-CoA and peptide, whereas its two products are Nα-acetylpe…

Why does Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase matter?

Because it connects several engineering ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Peptide alpha-N-acetyltransferase.