Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions

Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions

Methylation is a phase II biotransformation process involving the attachment of a methyl group to a substrate. Enzymes known as methyltransferases orchestrate this reaction.
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Declining demands or constraining supply? Explaining the trend of care home entry in England 2001-2021.

The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences·2026

Same author

Alternative enzymatic pathways to penicillin antibiotics.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Fast, long-range intercellular signal propagation through growth-assisted positive feedback.

Cell systems·2026

Same author

Engineering plasmids with synthetic origins of replication.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Extraventricular Choroid Plexus Papilloma: A Case Report.

Cureus·2025

Same author

Long-term homeostasis in microbial consortia via auxotrophic cross-feeding.

Nature communications·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Sequence-specific Labeling of Nucleic Acids and Proteins with Methyltransferases and Cofactor Analogues

Sequence-specific Labeling of Nucleic Acids and Proteins with Methyltransferases and Cofactor Analogues

Published on: November 22, 2014

Recent advances in methyltransferase biocatalysis.

Matthew R Bennett¹, Sarah A Shepherd¹, Victoria A Cronin¹

¹School of Chemistry & Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom.

Current Opinion in Chemical Biology

|March 5, 2017

Summary

Methyltransferase enzymes are engineered for synthetic applications, utilizing S-adenosyl-L-methionine analogs for novel alkylation reactions. Advances include enhanced production and improved enzyme selectivity for broader biocatalysis.

More Related Videos

Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis

Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis

Published on: July 9, 2019

Immobilization of Multi-biocatalysts in Alginate Beads for Cofactor Regeneration and Improved Reusability

Immobilization of Multi-biocatalysts in Alginate Beads for Cofactor Regeneration and Improved Reusability

Published on: April 22, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Sequence-specific Labeling of Nucleic Acids and Proteins with Methyltransferases and Cofactor Analogues

Sequence-specific Labeling of Nucleic Acids and Proteins with Methyltransferases and Cofactor Analogues

Published on: November 22, 2014

Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis

Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis

Published on: July 9, 2019

Immobilization of Multi-biocatalysts in Alginate Beads for Cofactor Regeneration and Improved Reusability

Immobilization of Multi-biocatalysts in Alginate Beads for Cofactor Regeneration and Improved Reusability

Published on: April 22, 2016

Area of Science:

Biocatalysis and Synthetic Biology
Enzyme Engineering
Metabolic Engineering

Background:

Methyltransferases are crucial enzymes catalyzing methylation of diverse substrates.
Natural methyltransferases have limitations in synthetic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

Review recent advances in engineering methyltransferases for synthetic chemistry.
Highlight the use of S-adenosyl-L-methionine analogs and non-native substrates.
Discuss strategies for enhancing enzyme production and selectivity.

Main Methods:

Metabolic engineering for increased S-adenosyl-L-methionine production.
Enzymatic synthesis of S-adenosyl-L-methionine analogs.
Structure-guided mutagenesis for enzyme selectivity improvement.
Application in multi-enzyme cascade reactions.

Main Results:

Engineered methyltransferases catalyze methylation and broader alkylation reactions with S-adenosyl-L-methionine analogs.
Enhanced in vivo production of S-adenosyl-L-methionine.
Improved enzyme selectivity through directed evolution and mutagenesis.
Successful deployment in multi-enzyme cascades.

Conclusions:

Methyltransferase engineering offers a versatile platform for synthetic chemistry.
S-adenosyl-L-methionine analogs expand the biocatalytic scope of methyltransferases.
Future research should focus on further expanding substrate scope and reaction diversity.