Dimethylthetin and dimethyl-β-propriothetin in methionine synthesis

Abstract

In a previous communication it was shown that choline and betaine are effective in promoting methionine synthesis from homocysteine in tissue homogenates (1). Data presented in this paper indicate that dimethylthetin, (CH3)2+SCH2COO-, which has been shown by Welch (2) to be lipotropic and has been reported by du Vigneaud (3) to promote growth on a methionine-free, homocysteine-containing diet, is 20 times as active as betaine in methionine formation. Dimethyl-β-propiothetin, (CH3)2+S(CH2)2COO-, recently isolated from Polysiphonia fastigiata by Challenger and Simpson (4) is also highly active. The enzyme for this transmethylation is found in the liver and kidney of all animals tested. Its high activity and general distribution suggest its biological importance in methionine synthesis.

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