Protein
Alpha-tubulin N-acetyltransferase
Organism
Plasmodium falciparum (isolate 3D7)
Function
Specifically acetylates 'Lys-40' in alpha-tubulin on the lumenal side of microtubules. Promotes microtubule destabilization and accelerates microtubule dynamics; this activity may be independent of acetylation activity. Acetylates alpha-tubulin with a slow enzymatic rate, due to a catalytic site that is not optimized for acetyl transfer. Enters the microtubule through each end and diffuses quickly throughout the lumen of microtubules. Acetylates only long/old microtubules because of its slow acetylation rate since it does not have time to act on dynamically unstable microtubules before the enzyme is released.
Similarity
Belongs to the acetyltransferase ATAT1 family.
Sequence
METFNHIDIKKYTREDLLYLRNTNNVLFKMFQKQVDEIACLSSKEQKLCGTLTSINNIINENYTIYCLIHTDGLIGFIKVTINQIGEKNLYLYDKIKLHYGKCTYFYILEKFQKRGLGIKIFNFMLKDNDISAFCLCYDNPSYKLQNFLKKYFSPCVLIKQPNHFVIFSNYFKNVSIKKVYERISN