Bile acid-CoA:amino acid N-acyltransferase (BAAT)

Bile acid-CoA:amino acid N-acyltransferase (BAAT) is a cytosolic, liver-predominant enzyme that catalyzes the conjugation of bile acids (mainly cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid) to the amino acids glycine and taurine, a critical step in bile acid metabolism and homeostasis. This amidation increases the detergent properties of bile acids in the gastrointestinal tract, facilitating the absorption of dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins. BAAT is encoded by the BAAT gene (chromosome 9q22.3-9q31.1) and plays a role in the regulation of bile acid pool characteristics and enterohepatic recycling. Recent findings indicate a broader role in the synthesis of N-acyl taurines, a class of bioactive lipids implicated in glucose and lipid metabolism. Deficiency or genetic defects in BAAT can lead to disorders of bile acid metabolism, with clinical manifestations related to impaired bile flow, fat malabsorption, and hepatic dysfunction

Other names

BACATBATGlycine N-choloyltransferaseCholoyl-CoA:glycine N-choloyltransferaseAmino acid N-choloyltransferaseBile acid-CoA thioesteraseCholyl-CoA glycine-taurine N-acyltransferaseCholyl-CoA:taurine N-acyltransferase

Substrate for bile acid conjugation (glycine, taurine); Modulation of bile acid pool composition (potentially relevant for drugs altering bile acid metabolism)