This gene encodes carnitine acetyltransferase (CRAT), which is a key enzyme in the metabolic pathway in mitochondria, peroxisomes and endoplasmic reticulum. CRAT catalyzes the reversible transfer of acyl groups from an acyl-CoA thioester to carnitine and regulates the ratio of acylCoA/CoA in the subcellular compartments. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.