cd03886

M20 Peptidase Aminoacylase 1 family; Peptidase M20 family, Aminoacylase 1 (ACY1; hippuricase; acylase I; amido acid deacylase; IAA-amino acid hydrolase; dehydropeptidase II; N-acyl-L-amino-acid amidohydrolase; EC 3.5.1.14) subfamily. ACY1 is the most abundant of the aminoacylases, a class of zinc binding homodimeric enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of N-acetylated proteins. It is encoded by the aminoacylase 1 gene (Acy1) on chromosome 3p21 that comprises 15 exons. N-terminal acetylation of proteins is a widespread and highly conserved process that is involved in the protection and stability of proteins. Several types of aminoacylases can be distinguished on the basis of substrate specificity; substrates include indoleacetic acid (IAA) N-conjugates of amino acids, N-acetyl-L-amino acids and aminobenzoylglutamate. ACY1 breaks down cytosolic aliphatic N-acyl-alpha-amino acids (except L-aspartate), especially N-acetyl-methionine and acetyl-glutamate into L-amino acids and an acyl group. However, ACY1 can also catalyze the reverse reaction, the synthesis of acetylated amino acids. ACY1 may also play a role in xenobiotic bioactivation as well as the inter-organ processing of amino acid-conjugated xenobiotic derivatives (S-substituted-N-acetyl-L-cysteine). ACY1 appears to physically interact with Sphingosine kinase type 1 (SphK1) and may influence its physiological functions; SphK1 and its product sphingosine-1-phosphate have been shown to promote cell growth and inhibit apoptosis of tumor cells. Strong expression of the human gene and its mouse ortholog Acy1 in brain, liver, and kidney, suggest a role of the enzyme in amino acid metabolism of these organs. Defects in ACY1 are the cause of aminoacylase-1 deficiency (ACY1D), resulting in a metabolic disorder manifesting encephalopathy and psychomotor delay.