acetyl
n. countablen. a chemical group that has a specific structure and is found in many living things. It is often part of larger molecules like proteins or DNA.
n. a functional group consisting of a methyl group linked to a carbonyl group. It is a common substituent in organic chemistry and biochemistry, particularly in the context of acetylation reactions.
The enzyme adds an acetyl group to the protein.
In biochemistry, the acetyl group is often transferred between molecules by enzymes called acetyltransferases.
The modification of histone proteins through the addition of an acetyl group can significantly alter the accessibility of DNA to transcriptional machinery, thereby influencing gene expression.
From Latin acētum (“vinegar”) + Ancient Greek ὕλη (húlē, “substance”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 30, 2026