What Does CAT Stand For?

CAT stands for Chloramphenicol Acetyltransferase

Chloramphenicol Acetyltransferase (CAT) is an enzyme that catalyzes the acetylation of chloramphenicol, an antibiotic, leading to its inactivation. This enzyme is produced by various bacteria as a mechanism of antibiotic resistance, allowing them to survive in the presence of chloramphenicol. CAT serves as a crucial model for studying enzymatic activity, drug resistance mechanisms, and has applications in molecular biology and genetic engineering, particularly in the development of selectable markers in recombinant DNA technology.

Added on 14th April 2008 | Last edited on 17th June 2025 | Edit Acronym

Other Meanings for CAT