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University of the Pacific

A fourier transform proton magnetic resonance study of the molecular conformation of S-adenosyl-L-methionine

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Contrary to a previous report, S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) affords stable solutions in D<sub>2</sub>O and the <sup>1</sup>H NMR spectrum can be determined. Comparison with the spectra of the model compounds adenosine, L-methionine and L-methionine-S-methyl sulfonium iodide allows complete assignment of the proton resonances. Coupling constants were determined by homonuclear decoupling and graphical analysis and were confined by computer simulation.</p><p>Details of the molecular conformation were determined by application of the Karplus equation and calculation of relative rotational isomer populations. Evidence indicates that the ribose ring is puckered preferentially in the C<sub>3</sub>'-exo conformation and that the C<sub>4</sub>'-C<sub>5</sub>' bond is constrained to a rotamer in which the sulfonium center is gauche to H<sub>4</sub>'. No conformational constraints were detected for the C<sub>&alpha;</sub>-C<sub>&beta;</sub> and C<sub>&beta;</sub>-C<sub>&alpha;</sub> bonds of the methionine side chain. The purine ring was shown to be oriented preferentially anti by intermolecular association studies with adenosine 5'-phosphate in the presence of MN(II).</p><p>Spectra of samples of (-)S-adenosyl-L-methionine of biological origin, differing in activity, counter ion and commercial source, have consistently revealed the presence of a small amount of the (+) sulfonium diastereomer. Arguments are presented to explain the failure of previous workers to detect (+)S-adenosyl-L-methionine in biological preparations.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science (M.S.)
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Graduate School
Year dc:date.available
1979

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Stolowitz, Mark Lewis
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Michael J. Minch

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/451
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholarlycommons.pacific.edu:uop_etds-1450

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of the Pacific
Base URL
scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Stolowitz, Mark Lewis. A fourier transform proton magnetic resonance study of the molecular conformation of S-adenosyl-L-methionine. Thesis thesis, 1979. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/451