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N-terminal acetylation occurs on over 80% of human proteins and is catalyzed by a family of N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs). All NATs contain a small catalytic subunit, while some also contain a large auxiliary subunit that facilitates catalysis and ribosome targeting for co-translational acetylation. NatC is one of the major NATs containing an NAA30 catalytic subunit, but uniquely contains two auxiliary subunits, large NAA35 and small NAA38. Here, we report the cryo-EM structures of human NatC (hNatC) complexes with and without NAA38, together with biochemical studies, to reveal that NAA38 increases the thermostability and broadens the substrate-specificity profile of NatC by ordering an N-terminal segment of NAA35 and reorienting an NAA30 N-terminal peptide binding loop for optimal catalysis, respectively. We also note important differences in engagement with a stabilizing inositol hexaphosphate molecule between human and yeast NatC. These studies provide new insights for the function and evolution of the NatC complex., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Protein N-terminal acetylation is predominantly a ribosome-associated modification, with NatA-E serving as the major enzymes. NatC is the most unusual of these enzymes, containing one Naa30 catalytic subunit and two auxiliary subunits, Naa35 and Naa38; and substrate selectivity profile that overlaps with NatE. Here, we report the cryoelectron microscopy structure of S. pombe NatC with a NatE/C-type bisubstrate analog and inositol hexaphosphate (IP 6 ), and associated biochemistry studies. We find that the presence of three subunits is a prerequisite for normal NatC acetylation activity in yeast and that IP 6 binds tightly to NatC to stabilize the complex. We also describe the molecular basis for IP 6 -mediated NatC complex stabilization and the overlapping yet distinct substrate profiles of NatC and NatE., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The majority of eukaryotic proteins is modified by N-terminal acetylation, which plays a fundamental role in protein homeostasis, localization, and complex formation. N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs) mainly act co-translationally on newly synthesized proteins at the ribosomal tunnel exit. NatA is the major NAT consisting of Naa10 catalytic and Naa15 auxiliary subunits, and with Naa50 forms the NatE complex. Naa50 has recently been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana and is important for plant development and stress response regulation. Here, we determined high-resolution X-ray crystal structures of AtNaa50 in complex with AcCoA and a bisubstrate analog. We characterized its substrate specificity, determined its enzymatic parameters, and identified functionally important residues. Even though Naa50 is conserved among species, we highlight differences between Arabidopsis and yeast, where Naa50 is catalytically inactive but binds CoA conjugates. Our study provides insights into Naa50 conservation, species-specific adaptations, and serves as a basis for further studies of NATs in plants., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The NatB N-terminal acetyltransferase specifically acetylates the N-terminal group of substrate protein peptides starting with Met-Asp/Glu/Asn/Gln. How NatB recognizes and acetylates these substrates remains unknown. Here, we report crystal structures of a NatB holoenzyme from Candida albicans in the presence of its co-factor CoA and substrate peptides. The auxiliary subunit Naa25 of NatB forms a horseshoe-like deck to hold specifically its catalytic subunit Naa20. The first two amino acids Met and Asp of a substrate peptide mediate the major interactions with the active site in the Naa20 subunit. The hydrogen bonds between the substrate Asp and pocket residues of Naa20 are essential to determine the NatB substrate specificity. Moreover, a hydrogen bond between the amino group of the substrate Met and a carbonyl group in the Naa20 active site directly anchors the substrate toward acetyl-CoA. Together, these structures define a unique molecular mechanism of specific N-terminal acetylation acted by NatB., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)