KAT2A

Protein lysine acyltransferase that catalyzes acetylation of histone and non-histone proteins using acetyl-CoA. Also catalyzes acyl-CoA-dependent acylation of lysine residues in proteins using alternative acyl-CoA donors, including propionyl-CoA, butyryl-CoA, succinyl-CoA, glutaryl-CoA, crotonyl-CoA and lactoyl-CoA. Acts as a histone lysine succinyltransferase: catalyzes succinylation of histone H3 on 'Lys-79' (H3K79succ), with a maximum frequency around the transcription start sites of genes. Succinylation of histones gives a specific tag for epigenetic transcription activation. Association with the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, which provides succinyl-CoA, is required for histone succinylation. In different complexes, functions either as an acetyltransferase (HAT) or as a succinyltransferase: in the SAGA and ATAC complexes, acts as a histone acetyltransferase. Has significant histone acetyltransferase activity with core histones, but not with nucleosome core particles. Has a a strong preference for acetylation of H3 at 'Lys-9' (H3K9ac). Also catalyzes acetylation of histone H1.4 (H1-4) at 'Lys-34' (H1.4K34ac), a modification enriched at promoters of active genes. Acetylation of histones gives a specific tag for epigenetic transcription activation. Recruited by the XPC complex at promoters, where it specifically mediates acetylation of histone variant H2A.Z.1/H2A.Z, thereby promoting expression of target genes. Involved in long-term memory consolidation and synaptic plasticity: acts by promoting expression of a hippocampal gene expression network linked to neuroactive receptor signaling (By similarity). Acts as a positive regulator of T-cell activation: upon TCR stimulation, recruited to the IL2 promoter following interaction with NFATC2 and catalyzes acetylation of histone H3 at 'Lys-9' (H3K9ac), leading to promote IL2 expression (By similarity). Required for growth and differentiation of craniofacial cartilage and bone by regulating acetylation of histone H3 at 'Lys-9' (H3K9ac) (By similarity). Regulates embryonic stem cell (ESC) pluripotency and differentiation (By similarity). Also acetylates non-histone proteins, such as CEBPB, CGAS, MRE11, PPARGC1A, PLK4 and TBX5. Involved in heart and limb development by mediating acetylation of TBX5, acetylation regulating nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of TBX5. Acts as a negative regulator of centrosome amplification by mediating acetylation of PLK4. Acts as a negative regulator of gluconeogenesis by mediating acetylation and subsequent inactivation of PPARGC1A. Acts as a positive regulator of cGAS-STING signaling by mediating acetylation and activation of CGAS. Also acts as a histone glutaryltransferase: catalyzes glutarylation of histone H4 on 'Lys-91' (H4K91glu), a mark that destabilizes nucleosomes by promoting dissociation of the H2A-H2B dimers from nucleosomes. Catalyzes histone H3 lactylation at 'Lys-14' and 'Lys-18' in a lactyl-CoA-dependent manner. Lactyl-CoA for this reaction can be generated by ACSS2..

Function from UniProtKB (Q92830), read 2026-09-23. CC BY 4.0.