title: Prebiotic methylation and the evolution of methyl transfer reactions in living cells.
abstract: An hypothesis is presented for the prebiotic origin of methyl groups and the evolution of methyl transfer reactions in living cells. This hypothesis, described in terms of prebiotic and early biotic chemical evolution, is based on experimental observations in our lab and in those of others, and on the mechanisms of enzymatic methyl transfer reactions that occur in living cells. Of particular interest is our demonstration of the reductive methylation of ethanolamine and glycine in aqueous solution by excess formaldehyde. These reactions, involving prebiotic compounds and conditions, are mechanistically analogous to the de novo origin of methyl groups in modern cells by reduction of methylene tetrahydrofolate. Furthermore, modern cellular methyl transfers from S-adenosylmethionine to amine nitrogen may involve formaldehyde as an intermediate and subsequent reductive methylation, analogous to the prebiotic chemistry observed herein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403, USA.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Waddell
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Eilders
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sims
mesh_terms: D001622:Betaine / Q000737:chemistry; D005075:Biological Evolution; D019856:Ethanolamine / Q000737:chemistry*; D019418:Evolution, Chemical; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005998:Glycine / Q000737:chemistry*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000737:chemistry*; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D000069497:Origin of Life; D013452:Sulfonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D013452:Sulfonium Compounds; D006710:Homocysteine; D005557:Formaldehyde; D001622:Betaine; D019856:Ethanolamine; C009581:trimethylsulfonium; D008780:Methyltransferases; D005998:Glycine