DNA methylation is one of the most common types of epigenetic regulators. When a gene is methylated, that gene cannot be expressed readily by DNA polymerase. In living organisms, a common enzyme cofactor that transfers a methyl group to acceptors like DNA is S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM). In vitro, SAM analogs have been used to probe reactions and mechanisms associated with DNA methylation. In this experiment, an S-alkyl-analog of methionine was synthesized from L-methionine and an alkyl-analog. S-benzylhomocysteine was also synthesized and a birch reduction was used to add the alkyl-analog to the sulfur in the methionine group. This S-alkyl-analog will be used in later experiments to probe DNA methylation mechanisms.<br/><br/>

Methods in synthesizing S-alkyl analogues of methionine

251st National Meeting (2016)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.