acetylation

Acetylation is the process of adding an acetyl group to a compound. This biochemical reaction is also referred to as acetylization. The reverse process, removing an acetyl group, is called deacetylation.123

In the context of gene expression, acetylation plays a crucial role. Enzymes known as histone acetyltransferases (HATs) add acetyl groups to histones, which are proteins that package DNA. This modification can activate gene expression. Conversely, histone deacetylases (HDACs) remove these acetyl groups, which can repress gene expression.4

Acetylation is also a key step in metabolism, where it contributes to the supply of biosynthetic precursors. For instance, carbohydrates can yield acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) through glycolysis. Acetyl-CoA is then used in metabolic cycles like the TCA cycle.5