S-Adenosyl methionine <=> Decarboxylated-Adenosyl methionine + CO2 Authored: Gopinathrao, G, 2008-05-21 15:52:50 EC Number: 4.1.1.50 Edited: Gopinathrao, G, 2006-04-27 13:13:48 Pubmed10029540 Pubmed11583147 Reactome Database ID Release 43351222 Reactome, http://www.reactome.org ReactomeREACT_14840 Reviewed: D'Eustachio, P, 2008-06-12 14:43:38 S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase belongs to a small class of amino acid decarboxylases that use a covalently bound pyruvate as a prosthetic group. It is an essential enzyme for polyamine biosynthesis and provides an important target for the design of anti-parasitic and cancer chemotherapeutic agents. It catalyzes the formation of the aminopropyl group donor in the biosynthesis of the polyamines spermidine and spermine. These pyruvoyl-dependent decarboxylases also form amines such as histamine, decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine, phosphatidylethanolamine (a component of membrane phospholipids), and -alanine (a precursor of coenzyme A), which are all of critical importance in cellular physiology and provide important targets for drug design.