Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 17, 2026

Exploring the Arginine Methylome by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Published on: December 16, 2021
Inhibitory effect of arginine-derivatives from ginseng extract and basic amino acids on protein-arginine
1Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract:
Protein-arginine N-methyltransferase (protein methylase I) catalyzes methylation of arginyl residues on substrate protein posttranslationally utilizing S-adenosyl-L-methionine as the methyl donor and yields NG-methylarginine residues. Arginyl-fructose and arginyl-fructosyl-glucose from Korean red ginseng were found to inhibit protein methylase I activity in vitro. This inhibitory activity was shown to be due to arginyl moiety in the molecules, rather than that of carbohydrates. Several basic amino acids as well as polyamines were also found to inhibit protein methylase I activity. Interestingly, the intensity of the inhibitory activity was correlated with the number of amino-group in polyamines, thus, in the order of spermine > spermidine > putrescine > agmatine-sulfate, with IC50 at approximately 15 mM, 25 mM, 35 mM, and 50 mM, respectively. On the other hand, neutral amino acids or NaCl did not inhibit the enzyme activity. Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis of the protein methylase I activity in the presence of arginine and spermidine indicated that the inhibition was competitive in nature in respect to protein substrate, with the Ki values of 24.8 mM and 11.5 mM, respectively.
Related Concept Videos
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Mechanism of Action
Reversible inhibitors like edrophonium bind to a specific part of the enzyme called the anionic catalytic site. They form noncovalent bonds, which means they are not strongly attached to the enzyme. This creates a temporary and less stable enzyme–inhibitor complex, leading to...
Basicity of Aromatic Amines
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Reversible inhibitors display short to medium durations of action. Short-acting agents include simple alcohols with...
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway

