Aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase

In enzymology, an aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * acetyl-CoA + a 2-arylethylamine $$\rightleftharpoons$$ CoA + an N-acetyl-2-arylethylamine

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are acetyl-CoA and 2-arylethylamine, whereas its two products are CoA and N-acetyl-2-arylethylamine.

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those acyltransferases transferring groups other than aminoacyl groups. The systematic name of this enzyme class is acetyl-CoA:2-arylethylamine N-acetyltransferase. Other names in common use include serotonin acetyltransferase, serotonin acetylase, arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase, serotonin N-acetyltransferase, AANAT, and melatonin rhythm enzyme. This enzyme participates in tryptophan metabolism.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, 6 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes, , , , , and.