The Acyl-CoA Specificity of Human Lysine Acetyltransferase KAT2A

Biochemistry. 2022 Sep 6;61(17):1874-1882. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00308. Epub 2022 Aug 22.

Abstract

Protein post-translational modifications serve to regulate a broad range of cellular functions including signal transduction, transcription, and metabolism. Protein lysine residues undergo many post-translational acylations and are regulated by a range of enzymes, such as histone acetyl transferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). KAT2A, well characterized as a lysine acetyltransferase for both histone and nonhistone substrates, has been reported to tolerate additional acyl-CoA substrates, such as succinyl-CoA, and shows nonacetyl transferase activity in specific biological contexts. In this work, we investigate the acyl-CoA substrate preference of KAT2A and attempt to determine whether and to what extent additional acyl-CoA substrates may be utilized by KAT2A in a cellular context. We show that while KAT2A can bind and utilize malonyl-CoA, its activity with succinyl-CoA or glutaryl-CoA is very weak, and acetylation is still the most efficient activity for KAT2A in vitro and in cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Histone Acetyltransferases / metabolism
  • Histones* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lysine / metabolism
  • Lysine Acetyltransferases* / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational

Substances

  • Histones
  • Lysine Acetyltransferases
  • Histone Acetyltransferases
  • KAT2A protein, human
  • Lysine