LAUSR

It is well known that the enzyme catalyzes the first step of branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism is branched-chain amino transferase (BCAT), which is involved in the synthesis and degradation of leucine, isoleucine and valine. There are two main subtypes of human branched chain amino transferase (hBCAT), including cytoplasmic BCAT (BCAT1) and mitochondrial BCAT (BCAT2). In recent years, the role of BCAT in tumors has attracted the attention of scientists, and there have been continuous research reports that BCAT plays a role in the tumor, Alzheimer’s disease, myeloid leukaemia and other diseases. It plays a significant role in the growth and development of diseases, and new discoveries about this gene in some diseases are made every year. BCAT usually promotes cancer proliferation and invasion by activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway and activating Wnt/β-catenin signal transduction. This article reviews the role and mechanism of BCAT in different diseases, as well as the recent biomedical research progress. This review aims to make a comprehensive summary of the role and mechanism of BCAT in different diseases and to provide new research ideas for the treatment, prognosis and prevention of certain diseases. Graphical Abstract The mechanism of branched chain amino transferases (BCATs) in related diseases.There are two main subtypes of human branched chain amino transferase (hBCAT), including cytoplasmic BCAT (BCAT1) and mitochondrial BCAT (BCAT2). High expression of BCAT1 promotes gastric cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, glioma, hepatocellular carcinoma, urothelial cancer, melanoma, lymphoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. It also aggravates liver disease, inflammatory disease, myeloid leukaemia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Low expression of BCAT1 exacerbates Parkinson’s disease. In contrast, high levels of BCAT1 protect the heart and help treat acute myocardial infarction. BCAT2 overexpression aggravates pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Inhibiting the expression of BCAT can treat the above diseases. BCATs: branched chain amino transferases; hBCAT: human branched chain amino transferase; BCAT1: cytoplasmic BCAT; BCAT2: mitochondrial BCAT. “+” stands for promotion and “-” for inhibition.