Recombinant Human Serotonin N-acetyltransferase (AANAT)

Uniprot Id

Q16613

Target Species

Human

Target Name

AANAT

Target Full Name

Serotonin N-acetyltransferase

Target Function

Controls the night/day rhythm of melatonin production in the pineal gland. Catalyzes the N-acetylation of serotonin into N-acetylserotonin, the penultimate step in the synthesis of melatonin.

Target Subcellular Location

Cytoplasm.

Target Protein Families

Acetyltransferase family, AANAT subfamily

Target Tissue Specificity

Highly expressed in pineal gland and at lower levels in the retina. Weak expression in several brain regions and in the pituitary gland.

Target Research Area

Neuroscience

Target Synonyms

AA-NAT; Aanat; Aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase; Arylalkylamine N acetyltransferase; Serotonin acetylase; Serotonin N-acetyltransferase; SNAT; SNAT_HUMAN

Target Background

The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the acetyltransferase superfamily. It is the penultimate enzyme in melatonin synthesis and controls the night/day rhythm in melatonin production in the vertebrate pineal gland. Melatonin is essential for the function of the circadian clock that influences activity and sleep. This enzyme is regulated by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation that promotes its interaction with 14-3-3 proteins and thus protects the enzyme against proteasomal degradation. This gene may contribute to numerous genetic diseases such as delayed sleep phase syndrome. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.