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Comment
. 2013 May;9(5):293-4.
doi: 10.1038/nchembio.1234.

Metabolism: Cancer mistunes methylation

Tomer Shlomi, Joshua D Rabinowitz
Comment

Metabolism: Cancer mistunes methylation

Tomer Shlomi et al. Nat Chem Biol. 2013 May.

Abstract

Metabolic aberrations affecting protein and DNA methylation are a potential source of cancer. A new study shows that the metabolic enzyme nicotinamide N-methyl-transferase, which is overexpressed in several types of tumors, can enhance cancer aggressiveness by draining methyl groups from S-adenosyl-methionine.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
NNMT drains methyl groups from the methionine cycle and thereby decreases protein methylation. Red arrows highlight methyltransferase reactions that consume SAM, including the NNMT reaction, in which nicotinamide's nitrogen engages in nucleophilic attack on SAM's electrophilic methyl carbon. NNMT depletes SAM and produces SAH; SAH is a product inhibitor of SAM-driven methyltransferase enzymes. THF, tetrahydrofolate.
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