Elongator protein 3 (Elp3) lysine acetyltransferase is a tail-anchored mitochondrial protein in toxoplasma gondii

Background: Protein acetylation is prevalent in mitochondria, yet acetyltransferases mediating this activity are unknown. Results: Toxoplasma Elongator protein 3 (Elp3) possesses a unique C-terminal transmembrane domain necessary and sufficient to target it to the mitochondria. Conclusion: Elp3 is an essential tail-anchored mitochondrial acetyltransferase in Toxoplasma. Significance: Elp3 has conserved functions involving mitochondria that may predate its established role in transcription.