aminoacylase-2 (aspartoacylase, ACY-2, ASPA, ACY2, ASP)

Introduction

Cleaves acylated L-aspartate.

Function

• catalyzes the deacetylation of N-acetylaspartate produce acetate & L-aspartate, this plays a role in maintenance of white matter
• in other tissues, acts as a scavenger of N-acetylaspartate from body fluids

N-acyl-L-aspartate + H2O <--> a carboxylate + L-aspartate

Structure

• homodimer (probable)
• belongs to the aspA/astE family, aspartoacylase subfamily

Expression

• brain white matter, skeletal muscle, kidney, adrenal glands, lung & liver

Pathology

• defects in ASPA are the cause of Canavan disease

More general terms

• aminohydrolase (deaminase)

Database

• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/271900
• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/608034
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P45381.html