ENZYME

ENZYME entry: EC 2.1.1.156

Accepted Name

Glycine/sarcosine N-methyltransferase.

Alternative Name(s)

Glycine sarcosine N-methyltransferase.

Glycine-sarcosine methyltransferase.

GMT.

GSMT.

Reaction catalysed

S-adenosyl-L-methionine + glycine <=> S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine + sarcosine
S-adenosyl-L-methionine + sarcosine <=> S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine + N,N-dimethylglycine

Comment(s)

Cells of the oxygen-evolving halotolerant cyanobacterium Aphanocthece halophytica synthesize betaine from glycine by a three-step methylation process.
This is the first enzyme and it leads to the formation of either sarcosine or N,N-dimethylglycine, which is further methylated to yield betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) by the action of EC 2.1.1.157.
Differs from EC 2.1.1.20, as it can further methylate the product of the first reaction.
Acetate, dimethylglycine and S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine can inhibit the reaction.

Cross-references

BRENDA

EC2PDB

ExplorEnz

PRIAM enzyme-specific profiles

KEGG Ligand Database for Enzyme Nomenclature

IUBMB Enzyme Nomenclature