Enzyme which catalyzes the acetylation of polyamines. Substrate specificity: norspermidine = spermidine >> spermine > N(1)-acetylspermine. This highly regulated enzyme allows a fine attenuation of the intracellular concentration of polyamines. Also involved in the regulation of polyamine transport out of cells. acetyl-CoA + an alkane-alpha,omega-diamine = an N-acetylalkane-alpha,omega-diamine + CoA + H(+) acetyl-CoA + spermidine = CoA + H(+) + N(1)-acetylspermidine acetyl-CoA + spermine = CoA + H(+) + N(1)-acetylspermine Amine and polyamine degradation; putrescine degradation; N-acetylputrescine from putrescine: step 1/1. Homodimer. Preferentially expressed in the dorsal-temporal quadrant of the developing retina. There was a sharp increase in retinal SSAT levels during the transition stage from proliferation (E7) to early differentiation (E10). SSAT was found in Muller glial cells and its distribution pattern in these cells closely followed the three differentiation axis of the developing retina, with a central-dorsal-temporal preference. Belongs to the acetyltransferase family.