Most of the proteins in the human body are altered through acetylation. This process involves the addition of an acetyl radical while a hydrogen atom leaves the molecule, so an acetate is formed.It has control over protein formation, drug biotransformation, as well as the regulation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and other genetic elements, as part of a process called histone acetylation.his process involves the addition of an acetyl radical while a hydrogen atom leaves the molecule, so an acetate is formed. It has control over protein formation, drug biotransformation, as well as the regulation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and other genetic elements, as part of a process called histone acetylation.