N-Acetylation of L-aspartate in the nervous system: differential distribution of a specific enzyme.
L-Aspartate N-acetyltransferase, a nervous system enzyme that mediates the synthesis of N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid, has been characterized. In the presence of acetyl-CoA, L-aspartate was acetylated 10-fold more efficiently than L-glutamate, and the acetylation of aspartylglutamate was not detectable. Within the nervous system, a 10-fold variation in the enzyme activity was observed, with the brainstem and spinal cord exhibiting the highest activity (10-15 pmol/min/mg tissue) and retina the lowest detectable activity (1-1.5 pmol/min/mg). No enzyme activity was detected in pituitary, heart, liver, or kidney. The enzyme activity was found to be membrane-associated and was solubilized by treatment with Triton X-100.
D000105:Acetyl Coenzyme A / Q000378:metabolism; D000107:Acetylation; D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000201:enzymology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014316:Tritium
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D014316:Tritium; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D000105:Acetyl Coenzyme A; D000123:Acetyltransferases; C046791:aspartate N-acetyltransferase