Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2025

Sequence-specific Labeling of Nucleic Acids and Proteins with Methyltransferases and Cofactor Analogues
Published on: November 22, 2014
Biomimetic S-Adenosylmethionine Regeneration Starting from Multiple Byproducts Enables Biocatalytic Alkylation with
Lukas Gericke1, Dipali Mhaindarkar1, Lukas C Karst1
1Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 25, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
Abstract:
S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) is an enzyme cofactor involved in methylation, aminopropyl transfer, and radical reactions. This versatility renders SAM-dependent enzymes of great interest in biocatalysis. The usage of SAM analogues adds to this diversity. However, high cost and instability of the cofactor impedes the investigation and usage of these enzymes. While SAM regeneration protocols from the methyltransferase (MT) byproduct S-adenosylhomocysteine are available, aminopropyl transferases and radical SAM enzymes are not covered. Here, we report a set of efficient one-pot systems to supply or regenerate SAM and SAM analogues for all three enzyme classes. The systems' flexibility is showcased by the transfer of an ethyl group with a cobalamin-dependent radical SAM MT using S-adenosylethionine as a cofactor. This shows the potential of SAM (analogue) supply and regeneration for the application of diverse chemistry, as well as for mechanistic studies using cofactor analogues.
Related Concept Videos
Radical Reactivity: Nucleophilic Radicals
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...
Radical Substitution: Allylic Bromination
Radical Anti-Markovnikov Addition to Alkenes: Mechanism
The mechanism starts with chain initiation, which involves two steps. In the first chain initiation step, a weak peroxide bond is homolytically cleaved upon mild heating to form two alkoxy radicals. In the second initiation step, a hydrogen atom is abstracted by the alkoxy...
Radical Reactivity: Electrophilic Radicals
Radical Anti-Markovnikov Addition to Alkenes: Overview

