Two mechanisms of action are proposed for pantethine. In the first, pantethine serves as the precursor for synthesis of coenzyme A. CoA is involved in the transfer of acetyl groups, in some instances to attach to proteins closely associated with activating and deactivating genes.
The proposed mechanisms of action for pantethine involve its role in creating coenzyme A, which plays a crucial role in transferring acetyl groups to proteins that regulate gene activity.