GOT2 Gene: Function, Expression, and Disease Associations | Biomedical Resource

GOT2 encodes the mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase, a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the reversible transamination between aspartate and alpha-ketoglutarate to form oxaloacetate and glutamate. This enzyme plays a critical role in amino acid metabolism, the malate-aspartate shuttle for transferring reducing equivalents across the mitochondrial membrane, and in gluconeogenesis. GOT2 is also involved in the regulation of mitochondrial function and has been implicated in various cancers and metabolic disorders.

Tissue Expression

Cell Line Expression

Hotspot Mutations

Mutation functional classification

• Malate-aspartate shuttle

• Alanine

• aspartate and glutamate metabolism

• Cysteine and methionine metabolism

• Arginine biosynthesis

GOT2 is a 430-amino acid protein localized to the mitochondrial matrix. It forms homodimers and requires pyridoxal phosphate as a cofactor. The enzyme catalyzes the reversible transamination of aspartate and alpha-ketoglutarate to oxaloacetate and glutamate, playing a central role in the malate-aspartate shuttle, which transfers reducing equivalents from the cytosol into mitochondria. GOT2 also participates in gluconeogenesis and amino acid metabolism. Its expression is ubiquitous but highest in tissues with high metabolic demand such as liver, heart, and skeletal muscle. Post-translational modifications, including acetylation, regulate its activity. GOT2 has been implicated in cancer metabolism, where it supports tumor growth by facilitating NAD+ regeneration and providing precursors for nucleotide synthesis.