Formotion and metabolism of S-adenosyl- l-homocysteine in yeast

Abstract

The formation of S-adenosyl- l-homocysteine and of S-adenosyl- l-methionine has been studied in the yeasts Candida utilis and Saccharomyces cerervisiae. Evidence for the formation of S-adenosyl- l-homocysteine from adenosine and l-homocysteine was obtained. When S-adenosyl- l-homocysteine, labeled with C 14 in the adenine moiety, was added to the culture medium, labeled S-adenosyl- l-methionine could be isolated from the cells. The conversion appears to involve the attachment of a methyl group or methyl precursor directly to the sulfur atom of S-adenosyl- l-homocysteine.