Branched chain amino acid transaminase 1

2ABJ, 2COG, 2COI, 2COJ58612035ENSG00000060982ENSMUSG00000030268P54687P24288NM_001178091NM_001178092NM_001178093NM_001178094NM_005504NM_001024468NM_007532NP_001171562NP_001171563NP_001171564NP_001171565NP_005495NP_001019639NP_031558Branched chain amino acid transaminase 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BCAT1 gene. It is the first enzyme in the Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) degradation pathway and facilitates the reversible transamination of BCAAs and glutamate. BCAT1 resides in the cytoplasm, while its isoform, BCAT2, is found in the mitochondria. Branched chain amino acid transaminase 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the BCAT1 gene. It is the first enzyme in the Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) degradation pathway and facilitates the reversible transamination of BCAAs and glutamate. BCAT1 resides in the cytoplasm, while its isoform, BCAT2, is found in the mitochondria. This gene encodes the cytosolic form of the enzyme branched-chain amino acid transaminase. This enzyme catalyzes the reversible transamination of branched-chain alpha-keto acids (BCKAs) to the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) Valine, Leucine and Isoleucine, which are essential for cell growth. In humans, its primary role is the deamination of BCAAs, as humans lack the enzymes for de novo synthesis of BCKAs. The respective cofactors are alpha-ketoglutarate and glutamate. The respective reactions are: