title: S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthetase and phospholipid methyltransferase are inhibited in human cirrhosis.
abstract: We have measured the activity S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthetase in liver biopsies from a group of controls (n = 17) and in 26 cirrhotics (12 alcoholic and 14 posthepatic). The activity of this enzyme was markedly reduced in the group of cirrhotics (285 +/- 32 pmoles per min per mg protein) when compared with that observed in controls (505 +/- 37 pmoles per min per mg protein). No differences in S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthetase was observed between both groups of cirrhotics. Similarly, a marked reduction in the activity phospholipid methyltransferase was also observed in liver biopsies from the same group of cirrhotics (105 +/- 12 pmoles per min per mg protein) when compared with the control subjects (241 +/- 13 pmoles per min per mg protein). Again, no difference in the activity of this enzyme was observed between both groups of cirrhotics. These results indicated a marked deficiency in the metabolism of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Metabolismo, Nutrición y Hormonas, Fundación, Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Duce
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ortíz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabrero
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mato
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008716:Methionine Adenosyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D050941:Phosphatidyl-N-Methylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase; D050918:Phosphatidylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000378:metabolism; D014166:Transferases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine; D014166:Transferases; D008780:Methyltransferases; D050918:Phosphatidylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase; D050941:Phosphatidyl-N-Methylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase; D008716:Methionine Adenosyltransferase