Reaction: (1) (+)-sesamin + tetrahydrofolate = (+)-demethylpiperitol + 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate
(2) (+)-demethylpiperitol + tetrahydrofolate = (+)-didemethylpinoresinol + 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate
For diagram of reaction click here.
Glossary: (+)-sesamin = 5,5′-[(1S,3aR,4S,6aR)-tetrahydro-1H,3H-furo[3,4-c]furan-1,4-diyl]bis(1,3-benzodioxole)
(+)-demethylpiperitol = 4-[(1S,3aR,4S,6aR)-4-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)tetrahydro-1H,3H-furo[3,4-c]furan-1-yl]benzene-1,2-diol
(+)-didemethylpinoresinol = 4-[(1S,3aR,4S,6aR)-4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)tetrahydro-1H,3H-furo[3,4-c]furan-1-yl]benzene-1,2-diol
Other name(s): sesA (gene name)
Systematic name: (+)-sesamin:tetrahydrofolate N-methylenetransferase
Comments: This enzyme was characterized from the bacterium Sinomonas sp. No.22. It catalyses a cleavage of a methylene bridge, followed by the transfer of the methylene group to tetrahydrofolate. The enzyme is also active with (+)-episesamin, (–)-asarinin, (+)-sesaminol, (+)-sesamolin, and piperine.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, MetaCyc, CAS registry number:
References:
1. Kumano, T., Fujiki, E., Hashimoto, Y. and Kobayashi, M. Discovery of a sesamin-metabolizing microorganism and a new enzyme. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 113 (2016) 9087-9092. [PMID: 27444012]