Enzymatic synthesis of N,N-dimethyl-sphingosine: demonstration of the sphingosine: N-methyltransferase in mouse brain

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1989 Nov 15;164(3):1411-6. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(89)91827-5.

Abstract

Based on our recent finding that N,N-dimethyl-D-erythro-sphingenine strongly inhibits protein kinase C (PK-C) whereas D-erythro-sphingenine produces only weak inhibition, we have studied the presence of N-methyltransferase responsible for conversion of sphingosine to its N,N-dimethyl derivative. The enzyme activity was detected in crude mouse brain tissue homogenate but was hardly detectable in liver homogenate, in which N-methylation of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is predominant.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / enzymology*
  • Carbon Radioisotopes
  • Chromatography, Thin Layer
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Radioisotope Dilution Technique
  • S-Adenosylmethionine / metabolism
  • Sphingosine / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Carbon Radioisotopes
  • S-Adenosylmethionine
  • Methyltransferases
  • sphingosine N-methyltransferase
  • N,N-dimethylsphingosine
  • Sphingosine