Multiple species of mammalian S-adenosylmethionine synthetase. Partial purification and characterization

Two species of S-adenosylmethionine (S-Ado-Met) synthetase (EC 2.5.1.6) exist in rat liver cytosol and a distinct species of the enzyme exists in kidney cytosol. S-Ado-Met synthetases alpha and beta in rat liver cytosol have been partially purified about 200- and 80-fold, respectively. The apparent molecular weight estimated by gel filtration and the sedimentation coefficient are 210 000 and 9 S for S-Ado-Met synthetase alpha and 160 000 and 5.5 S for S-Ado Met synthetase beta. Both enzymes absolutely require Mg2+ and K+ for the activity and are completely inhibited by p-(chloromercuri)-benzoate. Kinetic studies indicate that S-Ado-Met synthetases alpha and beta exhibit negative cooperativity with low S0.5 (ligand concentration required for half-maximal velocity) for L-methionine (17 microM) and ATP (0.5 mM) and positive cooperativity with much higher S0.5 values (S0.5 (L-methionine) = 0.5 mM, S0.5 (ATP) = 2 mM), respectively. The cryoprotectants dimethyl sulfoxide and glycerol markedly lower the S0.5 values of S-Ado-Met synthetase beta without significant effect on Vmax. A single species of S-Ado-Met synthetase has been purified about 1000-fold from rat kidney cytosol. The kidney enzyme, termed S-Ado-Met synthetase gamma, has an apparent molecular weight of 190 000 and a sedimentation coefficient of 7.5 S and is resistant to the inhibition by p-(chloromercuri)benzoate. S-Ado-Met synthetase gamma exhibits slightly negative cooperativity with an apparent S0.5 value for L-methionine of 6 microM and for ATP of 70 microM.