Acetylation is one of the major protein modifications in cells, where the acetyl group from acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) is transferred to a polypeptide chain. Protein acetylation can occur at N-terminal as a co-translational covalent modification by N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs), or on lysine as a reversible post-translational modification (PTM). Like phosphorylation, acetylation also affects protein function by altering the properties of proteins such as hydrophobicity, solubility, protein conformation and affinity with other macromolecules.

Protein phosphorylation is a reversible post-translational modification (PTM) that acts as a molecular switch for many cellular events. The activation and deactivation of signaling pathways through phosphorylation by kinases or dephosphorylation by phosphatases are under delicate control.