Development of a Suicide Inhibition-Based Protein Labeling Strategy for Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase

ACS Chem Biol. 2019 Apr 19;14(4):613-618. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.9b00211. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Abstract

Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) catalyzes the S-adenosyl-l-methionine-dependent methylation of nicotinamide to form N-methylnicotinamide. This enzyme detoxifies xenobiotics and regulates NAD+ biosynthesis. Additionally, NNMT is overexpressed in various cancers. Herein, we describe the first NNMT-targeted suicide substrates. These compounds, which include 4-chloropyridine and 4-chloronicotinamide, exploit the broad substrate scope of NNMT; methylation of the pyridine nitrogen enhances the electrophilicity of the C4 position, thereby promoting an aromatic nucleophilic substitution by C159, a noncatalytic cysteine. On the basis of this activity, we developed a suicide inhibition-based protein labeling strategy using an alkyne-substituted 4-chloropyridine that selectively labels NNMT in vitro and in cells. In total, this study describes the first NNMT-directed activity-based probes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Methylation
  • Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase / metabolism*
  • Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Proteins
  • Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase