Demethylation mechanisms

Our current knowledge regarding histone methylation stems in large part from the study of histone methyltransferases. Several of these enzymes are essential for development, vdth deregulated expression being linked to human disorders such as cancer [4]. Whereas proteins responsible for methylation of histones have been knovm for almost a decade, enzymes with histone demethylase activity (HDM) have only recently been discovered. Here we summarize our current knowledge regarding histone demethylases with a focus on the demethylation mechanisms, potential roles... 

DMN oxidative demethylation has been shown to be a liver mi-crosome cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase (10) Lotlikar et al. (11) found that a reconstituted enzyme system, consisting of cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and phosphatidyl choline was effective in catalyzing the demethylation of DMN. The most commonly accepted mechanism for the oxidative demethylation of DMN and, by extension, of other dialkyInltrosamlnes is shown in Scheme 1. 

Fraaije MW, WJH van Berkel (1997) Catalytic mechanism of the oxidative demethylation of 4-(methoxymethyl)phenol by vanillyl-alcohol oxidase. Evidence for formation of a /7-quinone intermediate. /Sio/ Chem 272 18111-18116. 

Shyadehi AZ, DC Lamb, SL Kelly, DE Kelly, W-H Schunck, JN Wright, D Corina, M Akhtar (1996) The mechanism of the acyl-carbon bond cleavage reaction catalyzed by recombinant sterol 14a-demethyl-ase of Candida albicans (other names are lanosterol 14a-demethylase, P-450]4p, and CYP51). J Biol Chem 271 12445-12450. 

In the case of the methylated xanthines, particularly theophylline, theobromine and caffeine, the preponderance of data on the metabolism of these compounds in man suggests that a methylated uric acid is the principal product. However, the data presented earlier proposes at best a 77 per cent accounting of the methylated xanthine administered. The question can be raised as to whether the final products observed upon electrochemical oxidation of these compounds aids these studies. Very recently studies of metabolism of caffeine have revealed that 3,6,8-trimethylallantoin is a metabolite of caffeine 48>. This methylated allantoin is, of course, a major product observed electrochemically. The mechanism developed for the electrochemical oxidation seems to nicely rationalize the observed products and electrochemical behavior. The mechanism of biological oxidation could well be very similar, although insufficient work has yet been performed to come to any definite conclusions. There is however, one major difference between the electrochemical and biological reactions which is concerned with the fact that in the former situation no demethylation occurs whereas in the latter systems considerable demethylation appears to take place. 

Figure 3 The catalytic mechanism for oxidative demethylation by LSD1.

Demethylation results from the SN2 reaction whereas de-ethylation occurred via the E2 mechanism (Scheme 3.9). 

N-demethylation at the three N-methyl sites. In this regard, the 3-N-demethylation of caffeine to generate paraxanthine can serve as a particularly good in vivo indicator of the presence and activity of CYP1A2 (Fig. 4.7). In the case of phenacetin, CYP1A2 catalyzes N-deethylation to generate acetaminophen. Not unexpectedly, 1 A2 s selectivity toward heterocyclic aromatic substrates carries over to inhibitors of the enzyme. Furafylline (Fig. 4.7) is an example of a particularly potent 1A2 mechanism-based inhibitor. 

Miwa GT, Walsh JS, Kedderis GL, et al. The use of intramolecular isotope effects to distinguish between deprotonation and hydrogen atom abstraction mechanisms in cytochrome P-450- and peroxidase-catalyzed N-demethylation reactions. J Biol Chem 1983 258(23) 14445-14449. 

Sladek, N.E. and Mannering, G.J. (1969) Induction of drug metabolism. I. Differences in the mechanisms by which polycyclic hydrocarbons and phenobarbital produce their inductive effects on microsomal N-demethylating systems. Molecular Pharmacology, 5 (2), 174-185. 

Skeletal ring contraction steps of primary C7 and Cg rings are more probable than bicyclic intermediates (132b). Aromatization of methylcyclo-pentane indicated no carbonium mechanism with a nonacidic catalyst. Instead, Pines and Chen (132b) proposed a mechanism similar to that defined later as bond shift. This is a methyl shift. Two additional isomerization pathways characteristic of chromia have also been demonstrated vinyl shift (94) and isomerization via C3 and C4 cyclic intermediates (90a). These were discussed in Section III. 1,1-Dimethylcyclohexane and 4,4-dimethyl-cyclohexene gave mainly toluene over various chromia catalysts. Thus, both skeletal isomerization and demethylation activities of chromia have been verified. The presence of an acidic almnina support enhances isomerization dual function effects are thus also possible. 

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