Title: Enzymatic methylation of arsenic compounds. VII. Monomethylarsonous acid (MMAIII) is the substrate for MMA methyltransferase of rabbit liver and human hepatocytes.

Authors: Zakharyan, R A; Ayala-Fierro, F; Cullen, W R; Carter, D M; Aposhian, H V

Published In Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, (1999 Jul 1)

Abstract: Inorganic arsenite is methylated by some, but not all, animal species to dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). The monomethyl compound containing arsenic in an oxidation state of +3 has been proposed as an intermediate. Using highly purified arsenic methyltransferase from rabbit liver and the partially purified enzyme from Chang human liver hepatocytes, the activity of methylarsonic acid (MMAV) and methylarsonous acid (MMAIII) as a substrate has been characterized by Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The rabbit liver enzyme has a greater affinity for MMAIII (Km = 0.92 x 10(-5) M) than MMAV (Km = 7.0 x 10(-5) M) since the smaller the Km the greater the affinity. In addition, a dithiol, reduced lipoic acid or dithiothreitol, appears to be more active than GSH in satisfying the thiol requirement of the enzyme. Although investigators have been unable to detect the arsenic methyltransferase in surgically removed human liver, its presence in Chang human hepatocytes now has been established. The Km for MMAIII, 3.04 x 10(-6), using MMAIII methyltransferase from Chang human hepatocytes was not greatly different from that of the rabbit liver enzyme.

PubMed ID: 10387927

MeSH Terms: No MeSH terms associated with this publication