Patent ID: 6610504
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: C12Q

Abstract:
A method for assaying for the activity of a S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferase, comprising:a) contacting a SAM-dependent methyltransferase with a substrate of the methyltransferase in the presence of SAM, whereby a methyl group is transferred from the methyltransferase to the substrate and the SAM is converted into S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH); b) contacting the resulting SAH with a mutant SAH hydrolase which substantially retains its binding affinity or has enhanced binding affinity for SAH but has attenuated catalytic activity; and c) detecting binding between the SAH and the mutant SAH hydrolase to detect or determine the presence or amount of the SAH, whereby the activity of the SAM-dependent methyltransferase is assessed.