Two dedicated class C radical S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferases concertedly catalyse the synthesis of 7,8-dimethylmenaquinone.

Dimethylmenaquinone (DMMK), a prevalent menaquinone (MK) derivative of uncertain function, is characteristic for members of the class Coriobacteriia. Such bacteria are frequently present in intestinal microbiomes and comprise several pathogenic species. The coriobacterial model organism Adlercreutzia equolifaciens was used to investigate the enzymology of DMMK biosynthesis. A HemN-like class C radical S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferase (MenK2) from A. equolifaciens was produced in Wolinella succinogenes or Escherichia coli cells and found to methylate MK specifically at position C-7. In combination with a previously described MK methyltransferase (MqnK/MenK) dedicated to MK methylation at C-8, 7,8-DMMK6 was produced in W. succinogenes. The position of the two methyl groups was confirmed by two-dimensional NMR and midpoint redox potentials of 7-MMK6, 8-MMK6 and 7,8-DMMK6 were determined by cyclic voltammetry. A phylogenetic tree of MenK, MenK2 and HemN proteins revealed a Coriobacteriia-specific MenK2 clade. Using chimeric A. equolifaciens MenK/MenK2 proteins produced in E. coli it was shown that the combined linker and HemN domains determined the site-specificity of methylation. The results suggest that the use of MenK2 as a biomarker allows predicting the ability of DMMK synthesis in microbial species.

Systematic analysis of O-methyltransferase gene family and identification of potential members involved in the formation of O-methylated flavonoids in Citrus.

The O-methylation of various secondary metabolites is mainly catalyzed by S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-dependent O-methyltransferase (OMT) proteins that are encoded by the O-methyltransferase gene family. Citrus fruits are a rich source of O-methylated flavonoids that have a broad spectrum of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antiatherogenic properties. However, little is known about this gene family and its members that are involved in the O-methylation of flavonoids and their regulation in Citrus. In this study, 58 OMT genes were identified from the entire Citrus sinensis genome and compared with those from 3 other representative dicot plants. A comprehensive analysis was performed, including functional/substrate predictions, identification of chromosomal locations, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, and conserved motifs. Distribution mapping revealed that the 58 OMT genes were unevenly distributed on the 9 citrus chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis of 164 OMT proteins from C.sinensis, Arabidopsis thaliana, Populus trichocarpa, and Vitis vinifera showed that these proteins were categorized into group I (COMT subfamily) and group II (CCoAOMT subfamily), which were further divided into 10 and 2 subgroups, respectively. Finally, digital gene expression and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that citrus OMT genes had distinct temporal and spatial expression patterns in different tissues and developmental stages. Interestingly, 18 and 11 of the 27 genes predicted to be involved in O-methylation of flavonoids had higher expression in the peel and pulp during fruit development, respectively. The citrus OMT gene family identified in this study might help in the selection of appropriate candidate genes and facilitate functional studies in Citrus.

Botrytis cinerea protein O-mannosyltransferases play critical roles in morphogenesis, growth, and virulence.

Protein O-glycosylation is crucial in determining the structure and function of numerous secreted and membrane-bound proteins. In fungi, this process begins with the addition of a mannose residue by protein O-mannosyltransferases (PMTs) in the lumen side of the ER membrane. We have generated mutants of the three Botrytis cinerea pmt genes to study their role in the virulence of this wide-range plant pathogen. B. cinerea PMTs, especially PMT2, are critical for the stability of the cell wall and are necessary for sporulation and for the generation of the extracellular matrix. PMTs are also individually required for full virulence in a variety of hosts, with a special role in the penetration of intact plant leaves. The most significant case is that of grapevine leaves, whose penetration requires the three functional PMTs. Furthermore, PMT2 also contributes significantly to fungal adherence on grapevine and tobacco leaves. Analysis of extracellular and membrane proteins showed significant changes in the pattern of protein secretion and glycosylation by the pmt mutants, and allowed the identification of new protein substrates putatively glycosylated by specific PMTs. Since plants do no possess these enzymes, PMTs constitute a promising target in the development of novel control strategies against B. cinerea.

Functional analysis of MycE and MycF, two O-methyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of mycinamicin macrolide antibiotics.

Mg motors: We characterized the in vitro function of MycE and MycF, two O-methyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of mycinamicin antibiotics. Each enzyme was confirmed to be an S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)-dependent deoxysugar methyltransferase. Their optimal activities require the presence of Mg(2+). With the reconstituted in vitro assays, the order of mycinamicin VI-->III-->IV in the post-PKS (polyketide synthase) tailoring pathway of mycinamicin was unambiguously determined.

In vitro carboxymethylation of myelin basic protein.

During a study to find natural substrate proteins of carboxymethylation, myelin basic protein was found to be a good substrate. The two protein carboxymethylases were purified partially using myelin basic protein as a substrate. These two enzymes may be identical with protein carboxymethylase I and II, which have been found to methylate gamma-globulin. The Km of myelin basic protein (25 microM) was very small compared with other substrates. The activities of the two carboxymethylases were high in the rat brain in comparison to the other rat organs. The activity increased during the period of myelination in the rat brain. These findings suggest that carboxymethylation of myelin basic protein may play an important role in myelination.