Reaction: (1) S-adenosyl-L-methionine + (S)-reticuline = S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine + (S)-tembetarine
(2) S-adenosyl-L-methionine + (S)-corytuberine = S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine + magnoflorine
For diagram of reaction click here or click here
Glossary: (S)-reticuline = (1S)-1-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-6-methoxy-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-7-ol
(S)-tembetarine = (1S)-1-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-6-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-7-ol
(S)-corytuberine = (6aS)-2,10-dimethoxy-6-methyl-5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzo[de,g]quinoline-1,11-diol
(S)-magnoflorine = (6aS)-1,11-dihydroxy-2,10-dimethoxy-6,6-dimethyl-5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzo[de,g]quinolinium
Other name(s): RNMT
Systematic name: S-adenosyl-L-methionine:(S)-reticuline N-methyltransferase
Comments: The enzyme from opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) can also methylate (R)-reticuline, tetrahydropapaverine, (S)-glaucine and (S)-bulbocapnine. It is involved in the biosynthesis of the quaternary benzylisoquinoline alkaloid magnoflorine.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, MetaCyc, CAS registry number:
References:
1. Morris, J.S. and Facchini, P.J. Isolation and characterization of reticuline N-methyltransferase involved in biosynthesis of the aporphine alkaloid magnoflorine in opium poppy. J. Biol. Chem. 291 (2016) 23416-23427. [PMID: 27634038]