Enzymatic synthesis of S-adenosyl-L-methionine from L-methionine and ATP

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) has been synthesized on 7-mmol scale from L-methionine and ATP. The ATP was generated in situ from AMP, and the synthesis of SAM was catalyzed by the enzyme ATP:L-methionine S-adenosyltransferase (EC 2.5.1.6). Although substantial effort was required to obtain even small quantities of enzyme, it has good stability once isolated and immobilized. The SAM produced by this procedure contains 89% of the (-) diasterioisomer and 11% of the (+) diasterioisomer.