Galactoside acetyltransferase

Galactoside acetyltransferase (also known as Galactoside O-acetyltransferase, thiogalactoside transacetylase and GAT) is an enzyme that transfers an acetyl group from acetyl-CoA to galactosides, glucosides and lactosides. It is coded for by the "lacA" gene of the "lac" operon in "E. coli".
Reaction.
It catalyzes the following reaction:
acetyl-CoA + beta-D-galactoside → CoA + 6-acetyl-beta-D-galactoside
The kinetics of the enzyme were delineated in 1995.
Biological role.
The enzyme's role in the classical "E.coli" "lac" operon remains unclear. However, the enzyme's cellular role may be to detoxify non-metabolizable pyranosides by acetylating them and preventing their reentry into the cell.