Amine N-methyltransferase

indolethylamine N-methyltransferase (with slight variation on CPK coloration)

amine N-methyltransferase
Identifiers
EC number	2.1.1.49
CAS number	51377-47-0
Databases
IntEnz	IntEnz view
BRENDA	BRENDA entry
ExPASy	NiceZyme view
KEGG	KEGG entry
MetaCyc	metabolic pathway
PRIAM	profile
PDB structures	RCSB PDB PDBe PDBsum
Gene Ontology	AmiGO / EGO
Search PMC articles PubMed articles

In enzymology, an amine N-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.49) is an enzyme which is ubiquitously present in non-neural tissues and which catalyzes the N-methylation of tryptamine and structurally related compounds.^[1]

The chemical reaction taking place is:

• S-adenosyl-L-methionine + an amine $\rightleftharpoons$ S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine + a methylated amine

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are S-adenosyl methionine and amine, whereas its two products are S-adenosylhomocysteine and methylated amine. In the case of tryptamine and serotonin these then become the dimethylated indolethylamines dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and bufotenine.^[2]

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those transferring one-carbon group methyltransferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is S-adenosyl-L-methionine:amine N-methyltransferase. Other names in common use include nicotine N-methyltransferase, tryptamine N-methyltransferase, arylamine N-methyltransferase, and tryptamine methyltransferase. This enzyme participates in tryptophan metabolism.

A wide range of primary, secondary and tertiary amines can act as acceptors, including tryptamine, aniline, nicotine and a variery of drugs and other xenobiotics.^[1]

Structural studies

As of late 2007, only one structure has been solved for this class of enzymes, with the PDB accession code 2A14.

See also

• Tryptamine

References

1. ^ ^{a b} MeSH tryptamine+N-methyltransferase
2. ^ J., Kärkkäinen; T. Forsström; J. Tornaeus; K. Wähälä; P. Kiuru; A. Honkanen; U. -H. Stenman; U. Turpeinen; A. Hesso (April 2005). "Potentially hallucinogenic 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor ligands bufotenine and dimethyltryptamine in blood and tissues". Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 65 (3): 189–199. doi:10.1080/00365510510013604. PMID 16095048. http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a713735722~db=all~order=page. Retrieved October 15, 2008. 

• Ansher SS, Jakoby WB (1986). "Amine N-methyltransferases from rabbit liver". J. Biol. Chem. 261 (9): 3996–4001. PMID 3949799. 
• Crooks PA, Godin CS, Damani LA, Ansher SS, Jakoby WB (1988). "Formation of quaternary amines by N-methylation of azaheterocycles with homogeneous amine N-methyltransferases". Biochem. Pharmacol. 37 (9): 1673–7. doi:10.1016/0006-2952(88)90426-1. PMID 3377829. 

External links

• EC 2.1.1.49
• Lyon ES, Jakoby WB (1981). "Arylamine N-methyltransferase". Meth. Enzymol. 77: 263–6. doi:10.1016/S0076-6879(81)77035-6. PMID 6276654. 
• Boarder MR, Rodnight R (1976). "Tryptamine-N-methyltransferase activity in brain tissue: a re-examination". Brain Res. 114 (2): 359–64. doi:10.1016/0006-8993(76)90680-6. PMID 963555.