LYSINE 2,3-AMINOMUTASE - ROLE OF S-ADENOSYL-L-METHIONINE IN THE MECHANISM - DEMONSTRATION OF TRITIUM TRANSFER FROM (2RS,3RS)-[3-H-3]LYSINE TO S-ADENOSYL-L-METHIONINE

(2RS,3RS)-[3-H-3]Lysine has been synthesized, and incubated with lysine 2,3-aminomutase in the presence of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM). After incubation, the SAM was converted, by heating, into methylthioadenosine (MTA). The latter contained ca. 1-6% of the incubated tritium, consistent with an exchange of SAM hydrogens (probably at C-5') with the 3-pro-R hydrogen of lysine. The results support a mechanism for lysine 2,3-aminomutase in which SAM acts as hydrogen carrier.