InterPro domain: IPR005299

General Information

  • Identifier IPR005299
  • Description SAM dependent carboxyl methyltransferase
  • Number of genes 2516
  • Gene duplication stats Loading...
  • Associated GO terms GO:0008168  

Abstract

This family of plant methyltransferases contains enzymes that act on a variety of substrates including salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and 7-methylxanthine. Caffeine is synthesised through sequential three-step methylation of xanthine derivatives at positions 7-N, 3-N, and 1-N [ 1 , 2 ]. The protein 7-methylxanthine methyltransferase (designated as CaMXMT) catalyses the second step to produce theobromine [ 3 ].


1. The structure of two N-methyltransferases from the caffeine biosynthetic pathway. Plant Physiol. 144, 879-89
2. Caffeine and related purine alkaloids: biosynthesis, catabolism, function and genetic engineering. Phytochemistry 69, 841-56
3. 7-Methylxanthine methyltransferase of coffee plants. Gene isolation and enzymatic properties. J. Biol. Chem. 276, 8213-8

Species distribution

Gene table

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