JOSE M. MATO'
Catalytically active human and rat liver S adenosylmethionine synthetase exists mainly in tetramer and dimer form. In liver biopsy samples from cirrhotic patients a marked reduction in total S adenosylmethionine synthetase activity and a specific loss of the tetrameric form of the enzyme exist. We have investigated the possible role of sulfhydryl groups in maintaining the structure and activity of Sadenosylmethionine synthetase. Both forms of S adenosylmethionine synthetase are rapidly inactivated by N-ethylmaleimide, and the loss of enzyme activity correlates with the incorporation of approximately 2 moles N-ethylmaleimide per mole of subunit. In addition, reaction with N-ethylmaleimide resulted in displacement of the tetramer-dimer equilibrium of the enzyme toward the dimer, but no monomer was detected under these conditions. A catalytically active monomeric Sadenosylmethionine synthetase was detected in the cytosolic extract from a liver biopsy sample from a cirrhotic patient, supporting our model for the structure of Sadenosylmethionine synthetase. Because treatment of Sadenosylmethionine synthetase with Nethylmaleimide resembles the situation of this enzyme in cirrhotic patients, it is proposed that impaired protection of the enzyme from oxidizing agents caused by a decreased synthesis of glutathione can explain the diminished synthesis of Sadenosylmethionine in liver cirrhosis. (HEPATOLOGY 1990;11:216-222.) Methionine is one of the so-called essential amino acids in mammals. It is the precursor of two other amino acids, cystine and cysteine, and glutathione. In mammals, as much as 48% of the methionine is me-