Caffeate O-methyltransferase

In enzymology, a caffeate O-methyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * SAM + caffeic acid $$\rightleftharpoons$$ SAH + ferulic acid

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are S-adenosyl methionine and 3,4-dihydroxy-trans-cinnamate (caffeic acid), whereas its two products are S-adenosylhomocysteine and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-trans-cinnamate (ferulic acid).

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those transferring one-carbon group methyltransferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is S-adenosyl- L -methionine:3,4-dihydroxy-trans-cinnamate 3-O-methyltransferase. Other names in common use include caffeate methyltransferase, caffeate 3-O-methyltransferase, and S-adenosyl- L -methionine:caffeic acid-O-methyltransferase. This enzyme participates in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, two structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes and.