InterPro domain: IPR004033

This entry represents a family of methyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of menaquinone and ubiqinone. Some members such as the UbiE enzyme from E. coli [ 1 ] are believed to act in both pathways, while others may act in only the menaquinone pathway. These methyltransferases are members of the UbiE/CoQ family of methyltransferases which also contains ubiquinone methyltransferases and other methyltransferases. Members of this clade include a wide distribution of bacteria and eukaryotes, but no archaea. An outgroup for this clade is provided by the phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase ( 2.1.1.17 ) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides [ 2 ]. Note that a number of non-orthologous genes which are members of IPR005493 have been erroneously annotated as MenG methyltransferases.

1. A C-methyltransferase involved in both ubiquinone and menaquinone biosynthesis: isolation and identification of the Escherichia coli ubiE gene. J. Bacteriol. 179, 1748-54
2. Isolation and functional expression in Escherichia coli of a gene encoding phosphatidylethanolamine methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.17) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. J. Biol. Chem. 268, 16002-8