Carnitine acetyltransferase: A review of its biology, enzymology, and bioorganic chemistry

Abstract The review begins with brief introductory remarks about the significance of carnitine. This is followed by a historical section on its discovery and function, ending with a listing of carnitine-dependent enzymes. Carnitine acetyltransferase then becomes the entire focus of the review. The ubiquity of the protein in tissues and organelles is emphasized in an initial section. A discussion of its enzymology follows, beginning with physical properties and kinetics and ending with substrate and inhibitor specificities. The review concludes with a discussion of proposed molecular mechanisms.