Abstract:Post-translational modifications (PTM) are essential to proteins in many ways, including improvement of stability, correct folding and regulation of functions. Lysine acetylation, as one kind of PTMs found in three domains of life, implicates in multiple cellular processes including central metabolism, transcription, translation, cell morphology, cell cycle, signal transduction, stress response and the infection of pathogenic microorganism. Though studies about acetylation mainly focus on eukaryotes, with the development and application of techniques like high-resolution mass spectrometry and generation of high-affinity pan-acetylation protein antibody, more evidence has shown that in prokaryotes a variety of proteins are acetylated and some of them are functionally regulated by this kind of modification. In this review, we would bring together the history and latest findings of acetylation in prokaryotes and highlight several well-studied examples in various species. In addition, we would like to raise several interesting questions to shed light on the future directions of research.