Effective May 2013, the arylamine N-acetyltransferase website moved to http://nat.mbg.duth.gr

Historical background

A consensus nomenclature for arylamine N-acetyltransferases (EC 2.3.1.5) was published in 1995 (Vatsis, K.P., Weber, W.W., Bell, D.A., Dupret, J.-M., Price Evans, D.A., Grant, D.M., Hein, D.W., Lin, H.J., Meyer, U.A., Relling, M.V., Sim, E., Suzuki, T., and Yamazoe, Y.: Nomenclature for N-acetyltransferases. (Pharmacogenetics 5: 1-17, 1995). Since that publication, a large number of new arylamine N-acetyltransferase alleles have been identified. As these alleles are identified, there has not been a systematic procedure for naming the new alleles. This has resulted in confusion regarding nomenclature, particularly for the human alleles. Since many human epidemiological studies investigate associations between arylamine N-acetyltransferase alleles and disease, this confusion in nomenclature has compromised the ability to report and interpret the results of these studies.

A session regarding arylamine N-acetyltransferase gene nomenclature was chaired by Dr. Wendell W. Weber at the First International Workshop for Arylamine N-acetyltransferases held October 22-24, 1998. A number of issues were discussed, including the gene symbol for arylamine N-acetyltransferase, the NATgene designations in species other than humans, the matter of upper versus lower case for the gene nomenclature, and the method for naming and disseminating nomenclature for newly identified alleles. A consensus was reached to form a arylamine N-acetyltransferase nomenclature committee to assess what changes need to be made in the nomenclature and to serve as a clearing house for naming new arylamine N-acetyltransferase alleles. At the request of the arylamine N-acetyltransferase nomenclature committee, the HUGO nomenclature committee agreed to designate NAT as the official gene symbol of arylamine N-acetyltransferase. Investigators in attendance at the meeting and all other interested investigators of the arylamine N-acetyltransferases were encouraged to make suggestions to the nomenclature committee. The committee was requested to maintain a website providing an up to date listing of arylamine N-acetyltransferase alleles. Investigators who identify new alleles are requested to contact one or all members of the committee in order to designate a consensus name for the new allele. The committee was requested to submit updates of the nomenclature to an appropriate journal for publication and they were published in (Pharmacogenetics 10: 291-292, 2000) and (Pharmacogenetics and Genomics 18: 367-368, 2008). The committee has continued to seek input regarding the nomenclature at subsequent international arylamine N-acetyltransferase workshops (listed below). The committee was asked to post the current nomenclature in order to make this information widely available to the international scientific community via the internet.  A Pharmacogene Variation (PharmVar) Consortium Expert Panel on Arylamine N-acetyltransferases was formed in 2022 to revise NAT2 allele nomenclature.  The new NAT2 nomenclature was published in 2024 and can be accessed here. 

International Arylamine N-acetyltransferase Workshops

First International Arylamine N-acetyltransferase Workshop
October 22-24,1998; Kuranda, Australia

Second International Arylamine N-acetyltransferase Workshop
October 5-6, 2001; Oxford, UK

Third International Arylamine N-acetyltransferase Workshop
August 27-28, 2004; Vancouver, Canada

Fourth International Arylamine N-acetyltransferase Workshop
September 14-16, 2007; Alexandroupolis, Greece

Fifth International Arylamine N-acetyltransferase Workshop
September 1-3, 2010; Paris, France (Meeting website)

Sixth International Arylamine N-acetyltransferase Workshop
October 4-6, 2013; Toronto, Canada (Meeting website)

Seventh International Workshop on N-acetyltransferases
June 18-20, 2016; Trier, Germany (Meeting website)

Eighth International Workshop on N-acetyltransferases 
September 25-26, 2024; Columbus, Ohio USA