Gastric histamine methyltransferase: Different methylation rates for enantiomers of side-chain methylated histamine analogues using a highly purified enzyme preparation

The inhibitor/activator and substrate properties of enantiomers of two methylated histamines (MH) were investigated using a histamine methyltransferase preparation which was purified 1207-fold from pig fundic mucosa by ultracentrifugation, ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and preparative electrofocusing. In 1-100 microM concentrations, S-alpha-MH and R-alpha-MH were acceptor substrates as good as histamine itself. When substrate concentrations were increased to 1 mM these substances were methylated to an even greater extent than histamine, since they did not exert substrate inhibition on HMT. Introduction of a further methyl-group into the N alpha-position reduced acceptor subs…