Non-catalytic component of the NatA N-terminal acetyltransferase, which catalyzes acetylation of proteins beginning with Met-Ser, Met-Gly and Met-Ala. N-acetylation plays a role in normal eukaryotic translation and processing, protect against proteolytic degradation and protein turnover. nat1 anchors ard1 and nat5 to the ribosome and may present the N termini of nascent polypeptides for acetylation (By similarity). Component of the N-terminal acetyltransferase A (NatA) complex, which is composed of at least ard1 and nat1. nat1 associates with the nascent polypeptide chain and the ribosome (By similarity).