enzymology Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. A ...

, a caffeate ''O''-methyltransferase () is an

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. A ...

that

catalyzes Catalysis () is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recyc ...

the

chemical reaction A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the IUPAC nomenclature for organic transformations, chemical transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Classically, chemical reactions encompass changes that only involve the pos ...

:''S''-adenosyl-L-methionine + 3,4-dihydroxy-''trans''-cinnamate

\rightleftharpoons

''S''-adenosyl-L-homocysteine + 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-''trans''-cinnamate Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are ''S''-adenosyl methionine and 3,4-dihydroxy-''trans''-cinnamate (caffeic acid), whereas its two

products Product may refer to: Business * Product (business), an item that serves as a solution to a specific consumer problem. * Product (project management), a deliverable or set of deliverables that contribute to a business solution Mathematics * Produ ...

are ''S''-adenosylhomocysteine and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-''trans''-cinnamate (ferulic acid). This enzyme belongs to the family of

transferase A transferase is any one of a class of enzymes that catalyse the transfer of specific functional groups (e.g. a methyl or glycosyl group) from one molecule (called the donor) to another (called the acceptor). They are involved in hundreds of di ...

s, specifically those transferring one-carbon group methyltransferases. The

systematic name A systematic name is a name given in a systematic way to one unique group, organism, object or chemical substance, out of a specific population or collection. Systematic names are usually part of a nomenclature. A semisystematic name or semitrivial ...

of this enzyme class is ''S''-adenosyl-L-methionine:3,4-dihydroxy-''trans''-cinnamate 3-''O''-methyltransferase. Other names in common use include caffeate methyltransferase, caffeate 3-''O''-methyltransferase, and ''S''-adenosyl-L-methionine:caffeic acid-''O''-methyltransferase. This enzyme participates in

phenylpropanoid biosynthesis The biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids involves a number of enzymes. From amino acids to cinnamates In plants, all phenylpropanoids are derived from the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, a.k.a. phenylalanine/t ...

Structural studies

As of late 2007, two

structures A structure is an arrangement and organization of interrelated elements in a material object or system, or the object or system so organized. Material structures include man-made objects such as buildings and machines and natural objects such as ...

have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes and .

References

* * * EC 2.1.1 Enzymes of known structure O-methylated hydroxycinnamic acids metabolism {{2.1-enzyme-stub