In enzymology, an indolepyruvate C-methyltransferase () is an

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrate (chemistry), substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecule ...

that

catalyzes Catalysis () is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recycl ...

the

chemical reaction A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the chemical transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Classically, chemical reactions encompass changes that only involve the positions of electrons in the forming and break ...

:S-adenosyl-L-methionine + (indol-3-yl)pyruvate

\rightleftharpoons

S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine + (3S)-3-(indol-3-yl)-3-oxobutanoate Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are

S-adenosyl methionine ''S''-Adenosyl methionine (SAM), also known under the commercial names of SAMe, SAM-e, or AdoMet, is a common cosubstrate involved in methyl group transfers, transsulfuration, and aminopropylation. Although these anabolic reactions occur throug ...

and (indol-3-yl)pyruvate, whereas its two

products Product may refer to: Business * Product (business), an item that serves as a solution to a specific consumer problem. * Product (project management), a deliverable or set of deliverables that contribute to a business solution Mathematics * Produ ...

are S-adenosylhomocysteine and (3S)-3-(indol-3-yl)-3-oxobutanoate.

Nomenclature

This enzyme belongs to the family of

transferase A transferase is any one of a class of enzymes that catalyse the transfer of specific functional groups (e.g. a methyl or glycosyl group) from one molecule (called the donor) to another (called the acceptor). They are involved in hundreds of ...

s, specifically those transferring one-carbon group methyltransferases. The

systematic name A systematic name is a name given in a systematic way to one unique group, organism, object or chemical substance, out of a specific population or collection. Systematic names are usually part of a nomenclature. A semisystematic name or semitrivial ...

of this enzyme class is S-adenosyl-L-methionine: (indol-3-yl)pyruvate C-methyltransferase. Other names in common use include indolepyruvate methyltransferase, indolepyruvate 3-methyltransferase, indolepyruvic acid methyltransferase, and S-adenosyl-L-methionine:indolepyruvate C-methyltransferase. This enzyme participates in

tryptophan metabolism Tryptophan (symbol Trp or W) is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. Tryptophan contains an α-amino group, an α-carboxylic acid group, and a side chain indole, making it a polar molecule with a non-polar aromatic ...

References

* EC 2.1.1 Enzymes of unknown structure {{2.1-enzyme-stub