S-Methylation of D- and L-penicillamine by human erythrocyte membrane thiol methyltransferase

R. A. Keith, D. M. Otterness, A. L. Kerremans, R. M. Weinshilboum

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22 Scopus citations

Abstract

Human red blood cell (RBC) membranes contain a thiol methyltransferase activity that catalyzes the S-methylation of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME). These experiments were performed to determine whether human RBC membranes contain enzymes that can catalyze the S-methylation of D- and L-penicillamine, to determine whether those enzymes are similar to the RBC membrane thiol methyltransferase that catalyzes the S-methylation of 2-ME, and to determine whether lipophilic conjugates of the S-methyl metabolites of D- and L-penicillamine are formed by RBC membranes. Human RBC membranes were able to catalyze the S-methylation of D- and L-penicillamine. The apparent Michaelis (K(m)) constants for D- and L-penicillamine were 7.53 and 7.27 mM, respectively. However, the V(max) value for L-penicillamine was more than 2.5 times greater than the V(max) value for D-penicillamine D- and L-penicillamine methyltransferases and 2-ME thiol methyltransferase were with respect to their subcellular distributions, inhibitor sensitivities, and thermal stabilities. In addition, when methyltransferase activities for 2-ME and for D- and L-penicillamine were measured in RBC membranes from 19 individual subjects, there were highly significant correlations among all three activities (r > 0.98, p < 0.001 for all three comparisons). These observations suggest either that a single enzyme in the human RBC membrane catalyzes the S-methylation of all three compounds, or, less likely, that these reactions are catalyzed by three separate enzymes that are regulated in parallel and have similar properties. Experiments were then performed to identify the products of the penicillamine methylation reactions. It was found that alkaline hydrolyzable lipophilic conjugates of the S-methyl derivatives of D- and L-penicillamine were formed during in vitro incubation with RBC membrane preparations. It remains to be determined whether lipophilic conjugates of the S-methyl metabolites of D-penicillamine and of other carboxylic acid sulfhydryl drugs are formed in vivo.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)669-676
Number of pages8
JournalDrug Metabolism and Disposition
Volume13
Issue number6
StatePublished - 1985

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmaceutical Science

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