Abstract
Arylamine N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.5) activity was examined using skin from Syrian hamster. Two isozymes of arylamine N-acetyltransferase, designated NAT-1 and NAT-2, were detected on anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Both enzyme activities had indistinguishable molecular masses (30 kDa), but differed significantly in their specificity toward the aromatic amines including serotonin, dopamine, methoxytryptamine, tryptamine, para-phenetidine, para-aminobenzoic acid, and sulphamethazine. Specifically, NAT-2 but not NAT-1 catalyzed acetylation of dopamine to N-acetyldopamine and acetylation of serotonin to form N-acetylserotonin, a direct precursor of melatonin. The two isozymes were also distinguishable based upon their sensitivity toward methotrexate inhibition (50% inhibiting dose for NAT-1 = 380 μM; NAT-2 > 2 mM). The presence of these two activities in the skin raises new questions about the physiologic role of this enzyme in general and in the skin-specific functions in particular.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 660-665 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Investigative Dermatology |
Volume | 101 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1993 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- N-acetyldopamine
- N-acetylserotonin
- detoxification
- melatonin
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Dermatology
- Cell Biology