AST
AST (aspartate aminotransferase, cytoplasmic) is the pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent enzyme encoded by the GOT1 gene, also known as glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 1, AST1 or SGOT. It contributes to amino acid metabolism and to the biosynthesis of L-glutamate. Browse Assay Genie's current range of AST research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
AST catalyses the biosynthesis of L-glutamate from L-aspartate or L-cysteine. It is an important regulator of glutamate levels, and glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter of the vertebrate central nervous system. The enzyme acts as a scavenger of glutamate in brain neuroprotection. Its aspartate aminotransferase activity is also involved in hepatic glucose synthesis during development and in adipocyte glyceroneogenesis.
With L-cysteine as substrate, AST regulates levels of mercaptopyruvate, an important source of hydrogen sulfide. Mercaptopyruvate is converted into H(2)S by 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3MST), and hydrogen sulfide is an important synaptic modulator and neuroprotectant in the brain. The enzyme also catalyses (2S)-2-aminobutanoate, a by-product of the cysteine biosynthesis pathway.
The GOT1 gene encodes the cytoplasmic form of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase; the mitochondrial form is GOT2. According to the NCBI Gene summary, the two enzymes are homodimeric and closely homologous, and they play a role in amino acid metabolism and in the urea and tricarboxylic acid cycles. AST belongs to the class-I pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent aminotransferase family and sits within the HGNC glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase family. Earlier HGNC names for the gene were glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 1, soluble (aspartate aminotransferase 1). The mouse and rat orthologs are both named Got1.
AST regulates glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system, and acts as a glutamate scavenger in brain neuroprotection.
Using L-cysteine, AST regulates mercaptopyruvate, a source of hydrogen sulfide, which is a synaptic modulator and neuroprotectant in the brain.
Its aspartate aminotransferase activity is involved in hepatic glucose synthesis during development and in adipocyte glyceroneogenesis.
As a cytoplasmic partner of mitochondrial GOT2, AST plays a role in amino acid metabolism and in the urea and tricarboxylic acid cycles.
AST catalyses the biosynthesis of L-glutamate from L-aspartate or L-cysteine and helps regulate glutamate levels in the brain. It is also involved in hepatic glucose synthesis during development, adipocyte glyceroneogenesis and the regulation of mercaptopyruvate, a source of hydrogen sulfide.
The gene symbol is GOT1, and aliases include AST1 and SGOT. The full name is glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 1, previously glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 1, soluble. UniProt lists the protein as aspartate aminotransferase, cytoplasmic. Two EC numbers are assigned: 2.6.1.1 and 2.6.1.3.
AST (GOT1) is the cytoplasmic form of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, while GOT2 is the mitochondrial form. Both are homodimeric and closely homologous. Orthologs exist in mouse and rat, where the gene is also named Got1; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other aminotransferases, glutamate-metabolism enzymes and hydrogen sulfide pathway partners with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P17174; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.