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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

In Vitro Assay to Measure Phosphatidylethanolamine Methyltransferase Activity
Published on: January 5, 2016
Phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase and regulation of homocysteine
Cara S Hartz1, Kevin L Schalinske
1Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
Abstract:
Homocysteine is a non-protein, sulfur-containing amino acid derived from methionine metabolism and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent transmethylation. Elevations in plasma homocysteine have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, birth defects, Alzheimer's disease, and osteoporosis. Of the many known methyltransferases that utilize SAM, phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase has recently received much attention for its possible role in the regulation of homocysteine.
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