Branched Chain Aminotransferase 2, Mitochondrial (BCAT2)

BCAT2 encodes a branched chain aminotransferase found in mitochondria. The encoded protein forms a dimer that catalyzes the first step in the production of the branched chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.Eden et al. (1996) characterized the BCAT2 gene in human and yeast and demonstrated that the yeast homologs of Bcat1 and Bcat2 code for cytosolic and mitochondrial enzymes, respectively.By study of somatic cell hybrids, Naylor and Shows ssigned the gene for BCT2 to chromosome 19.Bassett et al. (1997) mapped the mouse Bcat2 gene to chromosome 7 as part of the XREF project. On the basis of the conserved synteny between mouse and human chromosomes.