该基因编码一种酶，其功能是激活和停用芳胺、肼类药物和致癌物。该基因的多态性是n-乙酰化多态性的原因，在n-乙酰化多态性中，人类群体可分为快速、中间和缓慢乙酰化表型。该基因的多态性也与癌症和药物毒性的发生率增高有关。第二个多形性芳胺N-乙酰转移酶基因（NAT1）位于该基因（NAT2）附近。[由RefSeq提供，2019年9月]
This gene encodes an enzyme that functions to both activate and deactivate arylamine and hydrazine drugs and carcinogens. Polymorphisms in this gene are responsible for the N-acetylation polymorphism in which human populations segregate into rapid, intermediate, and slow acetylator phenotypes. Polymorphisms in this gene are also associated with higher incidences of cancer and drug toxicity. A second polymorphic arylamine N-acetyltransferase gene (NAT1), is located near this gene (NAT2). [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2019]