N-myristoyltransferases (NMTs) are members of the large family of GCN5-related N-acetyltransferases (GNATs). NMTs mainly catalyze eukaryotic protein myristoylation, an essential modification tagging protein N-termini and allowing successive subcellular membrane targeting. NMTs use myristoyl-CoA (C14:0) as major acyl donor. NMTs were recently found to react with unexpected substrates including lysine side-chains and acetyl-CoA. This chapter details the kinetic approaches that have allowed the characterization of the unique catalytic features of NMTs in vitro.

Acetylation; Enzyme kinetics; Glycine; Lysine; Myristoylation; N-myristoyltransferase; N-terminus; Protein acylation.