Methionine synthase: Difference between revisions

The change from homocysteine to methionine is an SN2 reaction, as seen above, where the methyl group on N-5 from methyltetrahydrofolate (MTHF), is donated. MTHF is a product of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [[MTHFR]] from the folate cycle. This is a complex reaction as tetrahydrofolate (THF), the product, is a poor leaving group and requires a "super nucleophile", vitamin B12 Cob(I)alamin, to carry out the reaction<ref>DOI:10.1146/annurev.biochem.72.121801.161828</ref><ref name="Kung et al">DOI: 10.1038/nature10916</ref>; the methyl carrier.  

 

As stated previously, MS is an important enzyme responsible for generating methionine, required by our bodies for healthy cell and tissue growth. Any MS and/or B12 deficiencies can result in diseases such as abnormal birth defects or anemia<ref name="Kung et al"/>.

The full structure of MS has yet to be determined but studies have found it contains four domains, each with a unique function that bind to Cob(I)alamin as the methyl carrier, MTHF as the methyl donor in the catalytic cycle, homocysteine as the methyl acceptor, and S-adenosylmethionine or SAM, as the methyl donor in the reactivation cycle<ref name="Bandarian et al">DOI: 10.1038/nsb738</ref>. The orientation of the domains changes during the catalytic cycle. Shown here is the <scene name='90/907471/Superposition/7'>theoretical prediction</scene> of the structure by the alphafold algorithm, with experimental structures of the N-terminal 2 domains as well as of the C-terminal 2 domins superposed.