Betaine—homocysteine S-methyltransferase

In the field of enzymology, a betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase also known as betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) is a zinc metallo-enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from trimethylglycine and a hydrogen ion from homocysteine to produce dimethylglycine and methionine respectively:(See Template:Leucine metabolism in humans – this diagram does not include the pathway for β-leucine synthesis via leucine 2,3-aminomutase) In the field of enzymology, a betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase also known as betaine-homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) is a zinc metallo-enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from trimethylglycine and a hydrogen ion from homocysteine to produce dimethylglycine and methionine respectively: This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those transferring one-carbon group methyltransferases. This enzyme participates in the metabolism of glycine, serine, threonine and also methionine. In humans, there are two isozymes, BHMT and BHMT2, each encoded by a separate gene. BHMT is expressed most predominantly in the liver and kidney. Mutations in the BHMT gene are known to exist in humans. Anomalies may influence the metabolism of homocysteine , which is implicated in disorders ranging from vascular disease, autism, and schizophrenia to neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida.