International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review Structure and Functional Diversity of GCN5-Related N-Acetyltransferases (GNAT) Abu Iftiaf Md Salah Ud-Din 1, Alexandra Tikhomirova 1 and Anna Roujeinikova 1,2,* 1 Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute; Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia;
[email protected] (A.I.M.S.U.-D.);
[email protected] (A.T.) 2 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +61-3-9902-9194; Fax: +61-3-9902-9222 Academic Editor: Claudiu T. Supuran Received: 30 May 2016; Accepted: 20 June 2016; Published: 28 June 2016 Abstract: General control non-repressible 5 (GCN5)-related N-acetyltransferases (GNAT) catalyze the transfer of an acyl moiety from acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) to a diverse group of substrates and are widely distributed in all domains of life. This review of the currently available data acquired on GNAT enzymes by a combination of structural, mutagenesis and kinetic methods summarizes the key similarities and differences between several distinctly different families within the GNAT superfamily, with an emphasis on the mechanistic insights obtained from the analysis of the complexes with substrates or inhibitors. It discusses the structural basis for the common acetyltransferase mechanism, outlines the factors important for the substrate recognition, and describes the mechanism of action of inhibitors of these enzymes. It is anticipated that understanding of the structural basis behind the reaction and substrate specificity of the enzymes from this superfamily can be exploited in the development of novel therapeutics to treat human diseases and combat emerging multidrug-resistant microbial infections.