Many paths to methyltransfer: a chronicle of convergence

Trends Biochem Sci. 2003 Jun;28(6):329-35. doi: 10.1016/S0968-0004(03)00090-2.

Abstract

S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) dependent methyltransferases (MTases) are involved in biosynthesis, signal transduction, protein repair, chromatin regulation and gene silencing. Five different structural folds (I-V) have been described that bind AdoMet and catalyze methyltransfer to diverse substrates, although the great majority of known MTases have the Class I fold. Even within a particular MTase class the amino-acid sequence similarity can be as low as 10%. Thus, the structural and catalytic requirements for methyltransfer from AdoMet appear to be remarkably flexible.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • DNA Methylation
  • Humans
  • Methyltransferases / chemistry*
  • Methyltransferases / physiology*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Protein Conformation
  • S-Adenosylmethionine / metabolism

Substances

  • S-Adenosylmethionine
  • Methyltransferases