Anserine (Beta-alanyl-N(Pi)-methyl-L-histidine) is a methylated derivative of carnosine (Beta-alanyl-L-histidine) and an abundant constituent of vertebrate skeletal muscles (Boldyrev et al. 2013). It has been suggested to serve as a proton buffer and radical scavenger. The formation of anserine is catalyzed by carnosine N-methyltransferase (CARNMT1), which transfers a methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) onto the nitrogen atom (Pi) of L-histidine residue in carnosine (Drozak et al. 2015). While CARNMT1 produces anserine in mammals, a similar reaction is catalysed by a different enzyme (carnosine N-methyltransferase 2) in birds and reptiles (Drozak et al. 2013).
Piecuch, M, Kozlowski, P, de Heer, E, Chrobok, L, Poleszak, O, Drozak, J, Baelde, HJ
carnosine N-methyltransferase activity of CARNMT1 [cytosol]
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