How Do You Spell CHLORAMPHENICOL TRANSACETYLASE?

1. Chloramphenicol transacetylase, also known as CAT, is an enzyme that catalyzes the acetylation of the antibiotic chloramphenicol. It is a transferase enzyme that covalently transfers an acetyl group from acetyl-CoA to a hydroxyl group on the chloramphenicol molecule.

   The enzyme plays a crucial role in the detoxification of chloramphenicol in bacteria. By acetylating the antibiotic, CAT reduces its inhibitory effect on bacterial growth, making the drug less effective as an antibiotic. This enzymatic activity helps bacteria survive in the presence of chloramphenicol, ultimately leading to antibiotic resistance.

   CAT is commonly found in a subclass of bacteria that produces chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) enzymes, such as Escherichia coli. The gene encoding CAT is frequently used as a reporter gene in molecular biology to study gene expression and is often included in recombinant DNA constructs as a selectable marker in genetic engineering experiments.

   In medical applications, CAT is also used as a tool in research labs to study protein-protein interactions and to purify proteins. It is a widely studied enzyme due to its diverse functional applications. Understanding CAT's structure, function, and regulation can provide valuable insights into antibiotic resistance mechanisms and contribute to the development of new strategies to combat bacterial infections.

Common Misspellings for CHLORAMPHENICOL TRANSACETYLASE

The word "Chloramphenicol Transacetylase" consists of two main parts: "chloramphenicol" and "transacetylase".

1. Chloramphenicol: The term "chloramphenicol" comes from the combination of "chloro-" meaning "containing chlorine" and "amphenicol", which refers to a group of antibiotics. The first part, "chloro-" indicates the presence of a chlorine atom in the compound, which is characteristic of the class of molecules that chloramphenicol belongs to.

2. Transacetylase: The term "transacetylase" is derived from two parts, "trans-" meaning "across" or "through" and "acetylase" which refers to an enzyme involved in acetylation. Acetylation is the process of adding an acetyl group (CH3CO-) to a molecule.