Document Detail


Phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase: unexpected findings from curiosity-driven research.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9386267     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In the process of investigating basic questions about the function of the enzyme phosphatidyl-ethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PEMT), we have made several unexpected findings. PEMT catalyzes the conversion of phosphatidylethanolamine to phosphatidylcholine in hepatocytes. A novel isoform, PEMT2, has been cloned, expressed and localized to a mitochondria-associated membrane in rat liver. Expression of PEMT2 in cultured rat hepatoma cells decreased the rate of cell division. Mechanistic studies suggest that the slower growth of transfected hepatoma cells is due to down regulation of CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase and the CDP-choline pathway for phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis. A role for PEMT2 in the regulation of hepatocyte cell division is also indicated by PEMT2 down-regulation in regenerating rat liver. Another unexpected finding was the discovery that PEMT2 is a liver specific tumor suppressor. Also surprising was the finding that expression of PEMT2 does not rescue mutant Chinese hamster ovary cells that have a temperature sensitive defect in the CDP-choline pathway even though the levels of phosphatidylcholine are returned to normal. Thus, curiosity-driven research has resulted in unexpected findings about PEMT and its function in liver.
Authors:
D E Vance
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  European journal of medical research     Volume:  1     ISSN:  0949-2321     ISO Abbreviation:  Eur. J. Med. Res.     Publication Date:  1996 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1998-01-27     Completed Date:  1998-01-27     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9517857     Medline TA:  Eur J Med Res     Country:  GERMANY    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  182-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Lipid and Lipoprotein Research Group and Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2S2, Canada. dvance@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
CHO Cells
Cricetinae
Liver / metabolism*
Methyltransferases* / chemistry,  genetics,  metabolism
Phosphatidylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase
Rats
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
EC 2.1.1.-/Methyltransferases; EC 2.1.1.17/Phosphatidylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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