This superfamily contains Gcn5-related N-acetyltransferases (GNAT) which catalyse the transfer of acetyl groups from a donor acetyl CoA to an acceptor primary amine from a wide range of substrates, including glucosamine 6-phosphate, aminoglycoside antibiotics, spermine, spermidine, and other small molecules. N-acetyltransferases are involved in the acetylation of histones at specific lysine residues, a process that is required for transcriptional activation and that has been implicated in chromatin assembly and DNA replication. Histone N-acetyltransferase (HAT) enzymes belong to this superfamily, as well as other acetyltransferases such as GNA1, PCAF (a human transcriptional coactivator, p300/CBP-associating factor PMID:10393169), SNAT (serotonin N-acetyltransferase) or AANAT (arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase), which acetylates serotonin into a circadian neurohormone that may participate in light-dark rhythms, and human mood and behaviour.

The N-acetyltransferase domain folds around a central, mixed beta-sheet that is largely built up of antiparallel strands; the only exception is a structurally conserved four-residue-long parallel stretch. Usually there are 6 beta-strands comprising the domain structure.

Pfam clan [PfamClan:CL0257], family PFAM:PF00583, INTERPRO:IPR000182, INTERPRO:IPR016181,PMID:15581578,PMID:24003232,DOI:10.1016/j.abb.2004.09.003