Aspartate aminotransferase, cytoplasmic

Biosynthesis of L-glutamate from L-aspartate or L-cysteine (PubMed:21900944). Important regulator of levels of glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter of the vertebrate central nervous system. Acts as a scavenger of glutamate in brain neuroprotection. The aspartate aminotransferase activity is involved in hepatic glucose synthesis during development and in adipocyte glyceroneogenesis. Using L-cysteine as substrate, regulates levels of mercaptopyruvate, an important source of hydrogen sulfide. Mercaptopyruvate is converted into H(2)S via the action of 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3MST). Hydrogen sulfide is an important synaptic modulator and neuroprotectant in the brain. In addition, catalyzes (2S)-2-aminobutanoate, a by-product in the cysteine biosynthesis pathway (PubMed:27827456).

Belongs to the class-I pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent aminotransferase family.

• Cytoplasm

cAspAT, Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase 1, Transaminase A, cCAT, GOT1

• entrezGene:2805
• omim:138180
• swissprot:P17174

Proteins

Metabolism

46248Da