Methyltransferase

Methyltransferases are enzymes or methylases in all living things that methylate its substrates, which means that they transfer a methyl group to other biomolecules. This reaction is part of very different metabolic pathways, and in particular in the biosynthesis of cobalamins, menaquinones, porphyrin, methionine, and dTTP. In addition to various synthetic routes methyltransferases generally help in the processing of genetic information, as in the processing of ribosomal RNA in DNA methylation and other methods of regulation of transcription, in mRNA capping and the modification of tRNA.

Examples

• MRNA cap methyltransferase
• N6 -methyl - adenosine
• Thiopurine methyltransferase

Behavior towards mercury

In the organism methyltransferases can paradoxically transfer methyl groups on mercury cations, which highly toxic dimethyl mercury is produced, which is partly responsible for that mercury can ever develop a toxic effect in the body.