InterPro domain: IPR003480

This family includes a number of transferase enzymes, mainly from plants and fungi. The motif HXXXD is probably part of the active site. Included in this family are the following: anthranilate N-hydroxycinnamoyl/benzoyltransferase that catalyses the first committed reaction of phytoalexin biosynthesis [ 1 ]; deacetylvindoline 4-O-acetyltransferase ( 2.3.1.107 ) that catalyses the last step in vindoline biosynthesis [ 2 ]; trichothecene 3-O-acetyltransferase which deactivates the mycotoxin trichothecene, an inhibitor of protein synthesis [ 3 ]; putrescine hydroxycinnamoyltransferase, which catalyses the transfer of an acyl from p-coumaryol-CoA to putrescine, to produce coumaroyl putrescine [ 4 ]; protein ENHANCED PSEUDOMONAS SUSCEPTIBILTY 1 (EPS1) from Arabidopsis which is required for pathogen-induced salicylic acid accumulation (SA) and SA-mediated resistance to Pseudomonas syringae infection [ 5 ].

This family also includes caffeoyltransferases, involved in the synthesis of montbretin A (MbA) in Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora, which catalyses the caffeoylation of myricetin 3-O-beta-D-glucosyl 1,2-alpha-L-rhamnoside (MRG) to produce myricetin 3-O-(6'-O-caffeoyl)-beta-D-glucosyl 1,2-alpha-L-rhamnoside (mini-MbA), a precursor of MbA. Mini-MbA and MbA are interesting compounds being studied for type 2 diabetes treatment as potent inhibitors of human pancreatic alpha-amylase [ 6 ].

1. Characterization and heterologous expression of hydroxycinnamoyl/benzoyl-CoA:anthranilate N-hydroxycinnamoyl/benzoyltransferase from elicited cell cultures of carnation, Dianthus caryophyllus L. Plant Mol. Biol. 35, 777-89
2. The terminal O-acetyltransferase involved in vindoline biosynthesis defines a new class of proteins responsible for coenzyme A-dependent acyl transfer. Plant J. 14, 703-13
3. Concordant evolution of trichothecene 3-O-acetyltransferase and an rDNA species phylogeny of trichothecene-producing and non-producing fusaria and other ascomycetous fungi. Microbiology (Reading, Engl.) 151, 509-19
4. Molecular evidence for biochemical diversification of phenolamide biosynthesis in rice plants. J Integr Plant Biol 57, 1040-53
5. An important role of a BAHD acyl transferase-like protein in plant innate immunity. Plant J. 30, 1864-1886
6. Discovery of UDP-Glycosyltransferases and BAHD-Acyltransferases Involved in the Biosynthesis of the Antidiabetic Plant Metabolite Montbretin A. Plant Cell