SAT1 Human

SAT-1 is a member the acetyltransferase family, and is a rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolic pathway of polyamine metabolism. SAT1 catalyzes the acetylation of spermidine and spermine, and is involved in the regulation of the intracellular concentration of polyamines and their transport out of cells. Therefore, SAT-1’s role is essential in polyamine homoeostasis, given that acetylated products are either excreted from the cell or oxidized by acetylpolyamine oxidase. Increased SAT1 activity causes variety of other effects which include pancreatic cells death, obstruction of regenerative tissue growth, behavioral changes, keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans (KFSD), and hair loss.
Defects in the SAT1 gene are linked to KFSD (keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans), which is a rare X-linked disorder affecting the skin and the eye. The KFSD affected men show thickening of the skin of the neck, ears, and extremities, particularly the palms and soles, loss of eyebrows, eyelashes and beard, thickening of the eyelids with blepharitis and ectropion, and corneal degeneration. Even though the majority of the affected families are compatible with an X-linked inheritance, KFSD are found to be clinically and genetically heterogeneous.