aspartate aminotransferase

aspartate aminotransferase

n. Abbr. AST

See SGOT.

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aspartate aminotransferase

an enzyme that catalyzes the reversible transfer of an amino group:

$$\eqalign{\hbox{aspartic acid + \alpha-ketoglutaric acid }\cr \hbox{\quad\leftrightharpoonsarrow\,\! oxaloacetic acid + glutamic acid}}$$

requiring the coenzyme pyridoxal phosphate; abbreviated AST. It is present in many tissues and body fluids. The serum concentration is elevated when damage to tissue cells, especially of the heart and liver, causes a release of the enzyme. AST values are also increased in some muscle diseases, such as enzootic muscular dystrophy. The test has limitations because of its lack of organ specificity. Called also (serum) glutamic-oxaloacetic aminotransferase (GOT or SGOT).