S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM, CAS No.: 101020-97-5) and glutathione (GSH) are two important biologically active molecules in living organisms. SAM, also known as adenosylmethionine, is the active form of methionine, which is widely present in animals and plants. Synthetase (EC 2.5.1.6) is enzymatically synthesized. SAM is closely related to many metabolic processes in the human body. It is a biochemical drug that improves cell metabolism. It can increase the levels of GSH, sulfate and taurine in the liver through transsulfurization, and prevent hepatitis, fatty liver, liver fibrosis, and liver cirrhosis. and liver cancer, it can also prevent the damage of alcohol, drugs and cytokines to the liver. SAM also has a good therapeutic effect on arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraine and other diseases, and has few side effects. As early as the 1970s, SAM has been used as a prescription drug for arthritis in Europe. In 1999, the FDA approved SAM to be listed as a health product, and it has become one of the best-selling nutritional products in the United States.

Physiological effects of S-adenosyl-L-methionine
In biology, SAM has many physiological functions such as transmethylation, transaminopropyl and transsulfurization.

1. Transaminopropyl effect
SAM participates in the synthesis of biogenic amines through transamidopropyl groups. Spermidine and spermine are important polyamines in eukaryotes. After decarboxylation of SAM, 5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA) is generated, and then the aminopropyl group is transferred to spermidine or putrescine to generate the corresponding spermine and spermidine. Under normal conditions, this metabolic pathway is involved in the metabolism of SAM in vivo. The proportion of the metabolic pathway does not exceed 5%, and this metabolic pathway is found to be induced and enhanced in liver transplantation and early stage liver cancer patients.

2. Transsulfurization
SAM is the active precursor of sulfur-containing compounds such as homocysteine and glutathione (GSH). SAM generates homocysteine through transsulfation, which is then catabolized to cysteine and then glutathione (GSH). GSS is an important antioxidant and detoxification substance in the body. In patients with chronic liver disease, GSH levels decrease, in part because of reduced SAM.

3. Transmethylation
SAM is an important methyl donor in vivo, and it has been found that at least 35 different methyltransferase reactions require SAM as a methyl donor. The biosynthesis of many nitrogen-containing substances must obtain methyl groups from SAM, such as creatine, choline, epinephrine, carnitine, and sarcosine. SAM is also involved in the methylation modification of nucleic acid and protein. For example, the methylation of ribose hydroxyl and base amino group on RNA chain requires the participation of SAM. In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the significance of DNA methylation modification. Protein methylation mainly refers to post-translational processing of proteins.

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