SPDS eBook March 2017

Background on SAMe (continued)

NH 2

Chemistry

N

N

CH 3

(S)

_

+

(S)

S

OOC H 2 N

N N

O

H

HO OH

(S, S) S - Adenosyl-L-Methionine

Challenge: SAMe’s Extreme Instability

Racemization

SAMe Bio-Inactive, (R,S) Reversible , Insignificant

SAMe Bio-Active, (S,S)

(1)

• S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) • Adenosine (ADE) • Deoxy-methylthioadenosine (DMTA) • etc… Irreversible, Significant