Aliphatic acid kinase, short-chain, conserved site Acetate kinase, which is predominantly found in micro-organisms, facilitates the production of acetyl-CoA by phosphorylating acetate in the presence of ATP and a divalent cation [<cite idref="PUB00002232"/>, <cite idref="PUB00001831"/>]. The enzyme is important in the process of glycolysis, enzyme levels being increased in the presence of excess glucose. The growth of a bacterial mutant lacking acetate kinase has been shown to be inhibited by glucose, suggesting that the enzyme is involved in excretion of excess carbohydrate [<cite idref="PUB00002232"/>]. A related enzyme, butyrate kinase, facilitates the formation of butyryl-CoA by phosphorylating butyrate in the presence of ATP to form butyryl phosphate [<cite idref="PUB00001831"/>].<p>This entry contains two signature patterns for these enzymes; the first one is located in the N-terminal section and the second in the central section. Both of them are glycine-rich and could be involved in substrate or ATP-binding. </p>