Glycine N-methyltransferase

In enzymology, a glycine N-methyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * S-adenosyl-L-methionine + glycine $$\rightleftharpoons$$ S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine + sarcosine

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are S-adenosyl methionine and glycine, whereas its two products are S-adenosylhomocysteine and sarcosine.

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those transferring one-carbon group methyltransferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is S-adenosyl-L-methionine:glycine N-methyltransferase. Other names in common use include glycine methyltransferase, S-adenosyl-L-methionine:glycine methyltransferase, and GNMT. This enzyme participates in glycine, serine and threonine metabolism.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, 12 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes, , , , , , , , , , , and.