title: Methyltransferase-Directed Labeling of Biomolecules and its Applications.
abstract: Methyltransferases (MTases) form a large family of enzymes that methylate a diverse set of targets, ranging from the three major biopolymers to small molecules. Most of these MTases use the cofactor S-adenosyl-l-Methionine (AdoMet) as a methyl source. In recent years, there have been significant efforts toward the development of AdoMet analogues with the aim of transferring moieties other than simple methyl groups. Two major classes of AdoMet analogues currently exist: doubly-activated molecules and aziridine based molecules, each of which employs a different approach to achieve transalkylation rather than transmethylation. In this review, we discuss the various strategies for labelling and functionalizing biomolecules using AdoMet-dependent MTases and AdoMet analogues. We cover the synthetic routes to AdoMet analogues, their stability in biological environments and their application in transalkylation reactions. Finally, some perspectives are presented for the potential use of AdoMet analogues in biology research, (epi)genetics and nanotechnology.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Nanoscale Biology, School of Engineering, EPFL, STI IBI-STI LBEN BM 5134 (Bâtiment BM), Station 17, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jochem
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6021-1518
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001, Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vranken
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001, Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leen
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5023-8960
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Neely
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001, Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kris P F
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2181-9635
authors.initials: KPF
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Photochemistry and Spectroscopy, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001, Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9101-0567
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hofkens
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries; D008780:Methyltransferases
keywords: DNA functionalization; S-adenosyl methionine; methyltransferases; protein modification; transalkylation