InterPro: IPR002656 Acyltransferase 3

This entry contains a range of acyltransferase enzymes as well as yet uncharacterised proteins from Caenorhabditis elegans. It also includes the protein OatA. The pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, is able to cause persistent infections due to its ability to resist the immune defence system. Lysozyme, a cell wall-lytic enzyme, is one of the first defence compounds induced in serum and tissues after the onset of infection.

S. aureus has complete resistance to lysozyme action by O-acetylating its peptidoglycan (PG) by O-acetyltransferase (OatA) [1, 2]. Staphylococcus bacteria are one of the only bacterial genera that are resistant to lysozyme and tend to colonise the skin and mucosa of humans and animals [3]. OatA is an integral membrane protein. This entry also includes NolL proteins. NolL-dependent acetylation is specific for the fucosyl penta-N-acetylglucosamine species. In addition, the NolL protein caused elevated production of lipo-chitin oligosaccharides (LCOs). The NolL protein obtained from Rhizobium loti (Mesorhizobium loti) functions as an acetyl transferase [4].