N-Acetyltransferase 8 (NAT8)

NAT8, isolated using the differential display method to detect tissue-specific genes, is specifically expressed in kidney and liver. The encoded protein shows amino acid sequence similarity to N-acetyltransferases. A similar protein in Xenopus affects cell adhesion and gastrulation movements, and may be localized in the secretory pathway. A highly similar paralog is found in a cluster with this gene.

The cDNA encodes a deduced 227-amino acid protein with a molecular mass of 25.6 kD and structural similarity to several bacterial acetyltransferases. The deduced 227-amino acid protein shares significant similarity with other camello proteins, including a conserved N-terminal hydrophobic domain and C-terminal consensus motifs of GCN5-related N-acetyltransferases.