Cytosolic branched-chain-amino-acid aminotransferase (BCAT1) catalyzes the reversible reactions of leucine, isoleucine, or valine with alpha-ketoglutarate (2-oxoglutarate) to form alpha-ketoisocaproate, alpha-keto-beta-methylvalerate, or a-ketoisovalerate, respectively, and glutamate. The active enzyme is a homodimer. Goto et al. (2005) have argued that cytosolic BCAT1 plays a major role in the generation of glutamate involved in synaptic transmission in neural tissue.
Hirotsu, K, Goto, M, Islam, MM, Conway, ME, Hutson, SM, Yennawar, NH, Miyahara, I
branched-chain-amino-acid transaminase activity of BCAT1 dimer [cytosol]
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