Enzymatic synthesis of N,N-dimethyl-sphingosine: demonstration of the sphingosine: N-methyltransferase in mouse brain |
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Authors: | Y Igarashi S Hakomori |
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Institution: | Biomembrane Institute, Seattle, WA 98119. |
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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. |
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