title: A Rapid and Efficient Assay for the Characterization of Substrates and Inhibitors of Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase.
abstract: Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is one of the most abundant small molecule methyltransferases in the human body and is primarily responsible for the N-methylation of the nicotinamide (vitamin B3). Employing the cofactor S-adenosyl-l-methionine, NNMT transfers a methyl group to the pyridine nitrogen of nicotinamide to generate N-methylnicotinamide. Interestingly, NNMT is also able to N-methylate a variety of other pyridine-containing small molecules, suggesting a secondary role for the enzyme in the detoxification of xenobiotics. A number of recent studies have also revealed links between NNMT overexpression and a variety of diseases, including multiple cancers, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and obesity. To facilitate further study of both the substrate scope and potential for inhibitor development, we here describe the development of a new NNMT activity assay. The assay makes use of ultra-high-performance hydrophilic interaction chromatography, allowing for rapid separation of the reaction products, coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometric detection, providing for enhanced sensitivity and enabling high-throughput sample analysis. We successfully demonstrated the general applicability of the method by performing kinetic analyses of NNMT-mediated methylation for a range of pyridine-based substrates. These findings also provide new insight into the diversity of substrate recognition by NNMT in a quantitative manner. In addition, we further established the suitability of the assay for the identification and characterization of small molecule inhibitors of NNMT. To do so, we investigated the inhibition of NNMT by the nonspecific methyltransferase inhibitors sinefungin and S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine, revealing IC50 values in the low micromolar range. The results of these inhibition studies are particularly noteworthy as they will permit future efforts toward the development of new NNMT-specific inhibitors.
authors: Department of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University , Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Matthijs J
authors: MJ
authors: van Haren
authors: Department of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University , Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Sastre Toraño
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Universitá Politecnica delle Marche , Ancona, Italy.
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Sartini
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, Universitá Politecnica delle Marche , Ancona, Italy.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Emanuelli
authors: Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London , London SE1 9NH, U.K.
authors: Richard B
authors: RB
authors: Parsons
authors: Department of Chemical Biology & Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University , Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Nathaniel I
authors: NI
authors: Martin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D050903:Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050903:Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase