ENZYMATIC METHYLATION OF ALKANE THIOLS

A membrane-bound enzymatic activity has been found in rabbit liver microsomes, which catalyses the transmethylation from S-adenosylmethionine to a series of C1-C3 alkane thiols. Methane and ethane thiols are known to be endogenous toxins, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatic coma, and methylation could provide an important pathway for the metabolic 'detoxification' of this class of compounds through neutralisation of the highly reactive sulph-hydryl group.