Carnitine acetylase is specific for short chain fatty acids. Carnitine acetylase seems to affect the flux through the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. It may be involved as well in the transport of acetyl-CoA into mitochondria. (R)-carnitine + acetyl-CoA = CoA + O-acetyl-(R)-carnitine By ethanol (PubMed:8420957). Repressed by galactose (PubMed:8420957). Present with 450 molecules/cell in log phase SD medium. Produced by alternative initiation at Met-23 of isoform Mitochondrial. Belongs to the carnitine/choline acetyltransferase family.