Biomaterial Database

Detection and Quantification of Histone Methyltransferase Activity In Vitro. 2022

Nwamaka J Idigo, and Philipp Voigt

Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.

Histone methyltransferases (HMTs) catalyze the methylation of lysine and arginine residues in histone as well as nonhistone substrates. In vitro histone methyltransferase assays have been instrumental in identifying HMTs, and they continue to be invaluable tools for the study of these important enzymes, revealing novel substrates and modes of regulation.Here we describe a universal protocol to examine HMT activity in vitro that can be adapted to a range of HMTs, substrates, and experimental objectives. We provide protocols for the detection of activity based on incorporation of 3H-labeled methyl groups from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), methylation-specific antibodies, and quantification of the reaction product S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH).

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008745	Methylation	Addition of methyl groups. In histo-chemistry methylation is used to esterify carboxyl groups and remove sulfate groups by treating tissue sections with hot methanol in the presence of hydrochloric acid. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Methylations
D011495	Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase	An enzyme that catalyzes the methylation of the epsilon-amino group of lysine residues in proteins to yield epsilon mono-, di-, and trimethyllysine.	Protein Lysine Methyltransferase,Protein Methylase III,Protein Methyltransferase III,Histone-Lysine Methyltransferase,Histone Lysine Methyltransferase,Histone Lysine N Methyltransferase,Methyltransferase, Histone-Lysine,Methyltransferase, Protein Lysine,N-Methyltransferase, Histone-Lysine
D011499	Protein Processing, Post-Translational	Any of various enzymatically catalyzed post-translational modifications of PEPTIDES or PROTEINS in the cell of origin. These modifications include carboxylation; HYDROXYLATION; ACETYLATION; PHOSPHORYLATION; METHYLATION; GLYCOSYLATION; ubiquitination; oxidation; proteolysis; and crosslinking and result in changes in molecular weight and electrophoretic motility.	Amino Acid Modification, Post-Translational,Post-Translational Modification,Post-Translational Protein Modification,Posttranslational Modification,Protein Modification, Post-Translational,Amino Acid Modification, Posttranslational,Post-Translational Amino Acid Modification,Post-Translational Modifications,Post-Translational Protein Processing,Posttranslational Amino Acid Modification,Posttranslational Modifications,Posttranslational Protein Processing,Protein Processing, Post Translational,Protein Processing, Posttranslational,Amino Acid Modification, Post Translational,Modification, Post-Translational,Modification, Post-Translational Protein,Modification, Posttranslational,Modifications, Post-Translational,Modifications, Post-Translational Protein,Modifications, Posttranslational,Post Translational Amino Acid Modification,Post Translational Modification,Post Translational Modifications,Post Translational Protein Modification,Post Translational Protein Processing,Post-Translational Protein Modifications,Processing, Post-Translational Protein,Processing, Posttranslational Protein,Protein Modification, Post Translational,Protein Modifications, Post-Translational
D006657	Histones	Small chromosomal proteins (approx 12-20 kD) possessing an open, unfolded structure and attached to the DNA in cell nuclei by ionic linkages. Classification into the various types (designated histone I, histone II, etc.) is based on the relative amounts of arginine and lysine in each.	Histone,Histone H1,Histone H1(s),Histone H2a,Histone H2b,Histone H3,Histone H3.3,Histone H4,Histone H5,Histone H7
D000076983	Histone Methyltransferases	Enzymes that catalyze the transfer of methyl groups to LYSINE or ARGININE residues of HISTONES, especially histone H3 and histone H4 proteins. They play a critical role in EPIGENETIC PROCESSES.	Histone H3 Methyltransferase,Histone Methylase,Histone Methyltransferase,Histone-Arginine N-Methyltransferase,H3 Methyltransferase, Histone,Histone Arginine N Methyltransferase,Methylase, Histone,Methyltransferase, Histone,Methyltransferase, Histone H3,Methyltransferases, Histone,N-Methyltransferase, Histone-Arginine
D012436	S-Adenosylmethionine	Physiologic methyl radical donor involved in enzymatic transmethylation reactions and present in all living organisms. It possesses anti-inflammatory activity and has been used in treatment of chronic liver disease. (From Merck, 11th ed)	AdoMet,Ademetionine,FO-1561,Gumbaral,S Amet,S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine,S-Adenosylmethionine Sulfate Tosylate,SAM-e,Samyr,FO 1561,FO1561,S Adenosyl L Methionine,S Adenosylmethionine,S Adenosylmethionine Sulfate Tosylate