Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase Suppression Participates in Nickel-Induced Histone H3 Lysine9 Dimethylation in BEAS-2B Cells
CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
Authors: Li, Qian; He, Min-Di; Mao, Lin; Wang, Xue; Jiang, Yu-Lin; Li, Min; Lu, Yong-Hui; Yu, Zheng-Ping; Zhou, Zhou
Abstract
Background: Nickel compounds are well-established human carcinogens with weak mutagenic activity. Histone methylation has been proposed to play an important role in nickel-induced carcinogenesis. Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) decreases histone methylation in several cancer cells by altering the cellular ratio of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). However, the role of NNMT in nickel-induced histone methylation remains unclear. Methods: BEAS-2B cells were exposed to different concentrations of nickel chloride (NiCl2) for 72 h or 200 mu M NiCl2 for different time periods. Histone H3 on lysine 9 (H3K9) mono-, di(-), and trimethylation and NNMT protein levels were measured by western blot analysis. Expressions of NNMT mRNA and the H3k9me2-associated genes, mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAP2K3) and dickkopf1 (DKK1), were determined by qPCR analysis. The cellular ratio of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) to reduced NAD (NADH) and SAM/SAH ratio were determined. Results: Exposure of BEAS-2B cells to nickel increased H3K9 dimethylation (H3K9me2), suppressed the expressions of H3K9me2-associated genes (MAP2K3 and DKK1), and induced NNMT repression at both the protein and mRNA levels. Furthermore, over-expression of NNMT inhibited nickel-induced H3K9me2 and altered the cellular SAM/SAH ratio. Additionally, the NADH oxidant phenazine methosulfate (PMS) not only reversed the nickel-induced reduction in NAD(+)/NADH but also inhibited the increase in H3K9me2. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the repression of NNMT may underlie nickel-induced H3K9 dimethylation by altering the cellular SAM/SAH ratio. (C) 2017 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.
Noncoupled Fluorescent Assay for Direct Real-Time Monitoring of Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase Activity
BIOCHEMISTRY
Authors: Neelakantan, Harshini; Vance, Virginia; Wang, Hua-Yu Leo; McHardy, Stanton F.; Watowich, Stanley J.
Abstract
Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is an important biotransforming enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a labile methyl group from the ubiquitous cofactor S-5'- adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) to endogenous and exogenous small molecules to form methylated end products. NNMT has been implicated in a number of chronic disease conditions, including metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoarthritis, kidney disease, and Parkinson's disease. We have developed a novel noncoupled fluorescence-based methyltransferase assay that allows direct ultrasensitive real-time detection of the NNMT reaction product 1-methylquinolinium. This is the first assay reported to date to utilize fluorescence spectroscopy to directly monitor NNMT product formation and activity in real time. This assay provided accurate kinetic data that allowed detailed comparative analysis of the NNMT reaction mechanism and kinetic parameters. A reaction model based on a random bireactant mechanism produced global curve fits that were most consistent with steady-state initial velocity data collected across an array of substrate concentrations. On the basis of the reaction mechanism, each substrate could independently bind to the NNMT apoenzyme; however, both substrates bound to the complementary binary complexes with an affinity similar to 20-fold stronger compared to their binding to the apoenzyme. This reaction mechanism implies either substrate induced conformational changes or bireactant intermolecular interactions may stabilize the binding of the substrate to the binary complex and formation of the ternary complex. Importantly, this assay could rapidly generate concentration response curves for known NNMT inhibitors, suggesting its applicability for high-throughput screening of chemical libraries to identify novel NNMT inhibitors. Furthermore, our novel assay potentially offers a robust detection technology for use in SAM substrate competition assays for the discovery and development of SAM-dependent methyltransferase inhibitors.