Phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase

In enzymology, a phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.17) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

S-adenosyl-L-methionine + phosphatidylethanolamine S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine + phosphatidyl-N-methylethanolamine

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are S-adenosyl methionine and phosphatidylethanolamine, whereas its two products are S-adenosylhomocysteine and phosphatidyl-N-methylethanolamine.

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:phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase. Other names in common use include PEMT, LMTase, lipid methyl transferase, phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase, phosphatidylethanolamine-N-methylase, and phosphatidylethanolamine-S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase. This enzyme participates in glycine, serine and threonine metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism.

References

• Hirata F, Viveros OH, Diliberto EJ Jr, Axelrod J (1978). "Identification and properties of two methyltransferases in conversion of phosphatidylethanolamine to phosphatidylcholine". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 75: 1718–21. doi:10.1073/pnas.75.4.1718. PMID 25437. 
• Morgan TE (1969). "Isolation and characterization of lipid N-methylrtansferase from dog lung". Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 178: 21–34. PMID 5773456. 
• Schneider WJ, Vance DE (1979). "Conversion of phosphatidylethanolamine to phosphatidylcholine in rat liver. Partial purification and characterization of the enzymatic activities". J. Biol. Chem. 254: 3886–91. PMID 438165.