Methyltransferases: Functions and Applications

• Published in: Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology Vol. 23; no. 18; pp. e202200212 - n/a
• Main Authors: Abdelraheem, Eman, Thair, Benjamin, Varela, Romina Fernández, Jockmann, Emely, Popadić, Désirée, Hailes, Helen C., Ward, John M., Iribarren, Adolfo M., Lewkowicz, Elizabeth S., Andexer, Jennifer N., Hagedoorn, Peter‐Leon, Hanefeld, Ulf
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 16-09-2022
• Subjects: Adenosylmethionine; biocatalysis; enzymes; Evaluation; methyltransferases; Methyltransferases - chemistry; S-adenosyl-l-methionine; S-Adenosylmethionine - chemistry; methyltransferases; enzymes; S-adenosyl-l-methionine; biocatalysis
• ISSN: 1439-4227; 1439-7633; 1439-7633
• DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200212

In this review the current state‐of‐the‐art of S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM)‐dependent methyltransferases and SAM are evaluated. Their structural classification and diversity is introduced and key mechanistic aspects presented which are then detailed further. Then, catalytic SAM as a target for drugs, and approaches to utilise SAM as a cofactor in synthesis are introduced with different supply and regeneration approaches evaluated. The use of SAM analogues are also described. Finally O‐, N‐, C‐ and S‐MTs, their synthetic applications and potential for compound diversification is given.
Methyltransferases are enzymes that will in the future enable clean and green alkylation of amino and hydroxy groups as well as reactive carbon atoms. These enzymes, their cofactor SAM (S‐adenosylmethionine) and the opportunities’ they offer for new SN2 chemistries are highlighted.