Alanine Aminotransferase

Alanine aminotransferase or ALT is a transaminase enzyme (EC 2.6.1.2).

Using pyridoxal phosphate (P5P) as a coenzyme, and the amino acid alanine, ALT is able to convert compounds with a keto (C=O) group into amines (C-NH2).

ALT catalyzes the following enzymatic reaction

glutamate + pyruvate ⇌ α-ketoglutarate + alanine

Inhibitors of ALT in Humans in Vivo

Vigabatrin [1]

Inducers of ALT in Rats in Vivo

Star fruit juice [2]

Bibliography

1. Evidence for both in vivo and in vitro interaction between vigabatrin and alanine transaminase.

Richens A, McEwan JR, Deybach JC, Mumford JP. PubMed PMID: 9131948

2. Evaluation of the toxic effect of star fruit on serum biochemical parameters in rats

Z. Y. Khoo, C. C. Teh, N. K. Rao, and J. H. Chin PubMed PMCID: PMC2900059