Description
Branched-chain Aminotransferase 1 is also know as BCT1. The gene is highly expressed early in embryogenesis, and during organogenesis its expression is localized to the neural tube, the somites, and the mesonephric tubules. The gene is also expressed in several MYC-based tumors. Lack of the enzyme BCAT1 can cause auxotroph, a kind of auxotrophic mutant in Chinese-hamster ovary cells that lacks the ability to grow if alpha-ketoisovaleric acid, alpha-ketoisocaproic acid, and alpha-keto-beta-methylvaleric acid are substituted for valine, leucine, and isoleucine in the culture medium