Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Antibody-Free Assay for RNA Methyltransferase Activity Analysis
Published on: July 9, 2019
Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase as a potential marker for cancer
Abstract:
Cancer is the main leading cause of death in the world, although it has been made noteworthy advances in cancer research in the past decades. Early detection of cancer is extremely important in improving the chances of successful therapy. Thus, it is urgently needed to make further efforts to explore novel tumor markers for treatment. Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is a cytosolic enzyme which catalyzes the N-methylation of nicotinamide to form 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MNA), and plays an important role in controlling the intracellular concentration of nicotinamide. Nicotinamide, the precursor to NAD+, is an important cofactor that associates cellular redox states with energy metabolism. Growing evidence shows that NNMT protein levels are elevated in a variety of human cancers, and increased NNMT expression has been linked to tumor aggressiveness. This paper presents a review for the role of NNMT expressed in a series of human cancers and the regulating mechanism involved, and offers its potential value of NNMT in cancer detection and treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Potential Energy
Chemical bonds that form attractive forces between atoms also contain potential energy, called chemical energy. When a chemical reaction...
Potential Energy
Standard Electrode Potentials
Cell Potential and Free Energy
Thermodynamics is the branch of physics dealing with the relationship between heat and other forms of energy. In an electrochemical cell, chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Thus, a link can be predicted between cell potential, free energy change, and the equilibrium constant for the reaction. Cell potential can also be measured as the oxidant or the reducing strength, and similar acid-base strength measures are reflected in equilibrium...
The Resting Membrane Potential
Electric Potential and Potential Difference
When a test charge moves from the initial to the final position, the electric potential difference between those positions is defined as the ratio of the change in the potential energy to the charge on the...

