Acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase

Acetyl- CoA acetyltransferase ( ACAT) (also: 3 -ketothiolase or thiolase II) mean enzymes that catalyze acetylation of acetyl- coenzyme A and the reverse reaction. These reactions are necessary for setting up and dismantling of ketone bodies, but also in the biosynthesis of steroids and in the degradation of some amino acids. ACAT is in all living things, and in eukaryotes present in two copies, one in the cytosol ( ACAT2 ) and in the mitochondria ( ACAT1 ). Defects in the ACAT1 gene are probably associated with a rare metabolic disorder.

ACAT1 variants were in a Chinese study associated with modified LDL and nHDL cholesterol values. A similar observation was previously made ​​in a Japanese study. ACAT in macrophages, however, seems to play an important role in the control of lipids in foam cells.

Catalysed equilibrium

2 ⇔ CoA -SH

Two molecules of acetyl CoA are reacted to form coenzyme A and acetoacetyl-CoA, and vice versa.