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 tabersonine 16-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 + 16-hydroxytabersonine

\rightleftharpoons

S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine + 16-methoxytabersonine Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are

S-adenosyl methionine ''S''-Adenosyl methionine (SAM), also known under the commercial names of SAMe, SAM-e, or AdoMet, is a common cosubstrate involved in methyl group transfers, transsulfuration, and aminopropylation. Although these anabolic reactions occur throug ...

and

16-hydroxytabersonine 16-Hydroxytabersonine is a terpene indole alkaloid produced by the plant ''Catharanthus roseus''. The metabolite is an intermediate in the formation of vindoline, a precursor needed for formation of the pharmaceutically valuable vinblastine and v ...

, whereas its two products are S-adenosylhomocysteine and 16-methoxytabersonine. 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 of this enzyme class is S-adenosyl-L-methionine:16-hydroxytabersonine 16-O-methyltransferase. Other names in common use include 11-demethyl-17-deacetylvindoline 11-methyltransferase, 11-O-demethyl-17-O-deacetylvindoline O-methyltransferase, S-adenosyl-L-methionine:11-O-demethyl-17-O-deacetylvindoline, and 11-O-methyltransferase. This enzyme participates in terpene indole and ipecac alkaloid biosynthesis.

References

* * EC 2.1.1 Enzymes of unknown structure {{2.1-enzyme-stub