ALT
ALT (alanine aminotransferase 1, encoded by the GPT gene) is a cytosolic pyridoxal enzyme that catalyses the reversible transfer of an amino group between alanine and 2-oxoglutarate. Also known as ALT1, GPT1 and SGPT, it links amino acid metabolism with glucose metabolism. Browse Assay Genie's current range of ALT research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
ALT is a pyridoxal enzyme that catalyses the reversible transamination between alanine and 2-oxoglutarate, forming pyruvate and glutamate. By mediating the interconversion of these four major intermediate metabolites, it plays an important role in gluconeogenesis and amino acid metabolism, and has a key role in the intermediary metabolism of glucose and amino acids.
The ALT gene (HGNC symbol GPT) encodes the cytosolic enzyme alanine aminotransferase 1, also called glutamate-pyruvate transaminase 1. The protein belongs to the class-I pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent aminotransferase family, alanine aminotransferase subfamily, and sits in the HGNC glutamic--pyruvic transaminase family. Its subcellular location is the cytoplasm. A related gene on chromosome 16 encodes a putative mitochondrial alanine aminotransferase, so the cytosolic ALT1 described here should be distinguished from that second enzyme. Mouse and rat both carry an orthologous gene named Gpt.
The gene has been listed under several names, including ALT, ALT1, GPT1 and SGPT, and the earlier HGNC name was glutamic-pyruvate transaminase (alanine aminotransferase). The SGPT alias reflects the long-standing clinical use of serum enzyme activity: serum ALT levels are routinely used as a biomarker of liver injury caused by drug toxicity, infection, alcohol and steatosis. This dual identity, as a metabolic enzyme and as a clinical readout, makes ALT a frequent subject in liver and metabolism research, where an ALT antibody, ALT ELISA kit or ALT protein may be used to study expression or activity.
Serum ALT activity is routinely used as a biomarker of liver injury caused by drug toxicity, infection, alcohol and steatosis.
ALT interconverts alanine, 2-oxoglutarate, pyruvate and glutamate, placing it at a central point of amino acid metabolism.
By supplying pyruvate from alanine, the enzyme plays an important role in gluconeogenesis and the intermediary metabolism of glucose.
As a class-I pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent aminotransferase, ALT is a model for transamination chemistry and cofactor-dependent catalysis.
ALT catalyses the reversible transamination between alanine and 2-oxoglutarate to form pyruvate and glutamate. Through this reaction it contributes to gluconeogenesis and amino acid metabolism. It is a pyridoxal enzyme located in the cytoplasm, and it uses pyridoxal phosphate as its cofactor.
ALT is encoded by the gene with HGNC symbol GPT. Aliases include ALT1, GPT1 and SGPT, and the protein is called alanine aminotransferase 1 or glutamate-pyruvate transaminase 1. The earlier gene name was glutamic-pyruvate transaminase (alanine aminotransferase).
Mouse and rat each have an orthologous gene called Gpt; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity. Clinically, serum ALT activity is routinely used as a biomarker of liver injury from drug toxicity, infection, alcohol and steatosis.
Other aminotransferases and liver injury markers that are commonly studied alongside ALT in metabolism research.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P24298; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.