branched-chain amino-acid transaminase-2 (mitochondrial branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase, placental protein 18)

Function

• catalyzes the 1st reaction in the catabolism of essential branched chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine, & valine
• may also function as a transporter of branched chain alpha-keto acids

L-leucine + 2-oxoglutarate
           <-->
4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate + L-glutamate

Cofactor: pyridoxal phosphate

Structure

• homodimer
• belongs to the class-IV pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent aminotransferase family

Compartment

isoform A: mitochondrion, isoform B: cytoplasm

Alternative splicing

named isoforms=2

Expression

ubiquitous

More general terms

• branched-chain amino-acid transaminase
• mitochondrial protein
• placental protein

Database

• Kegg: http://www.genome.jp/dbget-bin/www_bget?hsa:587
• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/113530
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/O15382.html