Function
5’-deoxy-5’-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) catalyzes the reversible phosphorolysis of to adenine and 5-methylthio-D-ribose-1-phosphate. (PDB code 1cg6). [1] MTAP is part of the polyamine metabolism. This reaction is the principle source of adenine in human cells. MTAP catalyzes the first step in the methionine salvage pathway.[2]
Disease
MTAP is deficient in many cancers because it is co-deleted with the tumor suppressor p16.
Relevance
MTAP is a potential target of chemotherapy. More than 20% of human various cancer cells do not show MTAP activity.
