| 背景信息 |
Arsenite methyltransferase (AS3MT) is a cytosolic enzyme that plays a central role in the detoxification and metabolism of inorganic arsenic. It catalyzes the transfer of methyl groups from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) to trivalent arsenicals, converting inorganic arsenite into monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). These methylated metabolites are less toxic and more readily excreted, thereby reducing arsenic retention in tissues. Beyond its primary metabolic function, AS3MT has been shown to facilitate NLRP3 inflammasome activation through m6A modification during arsenic exposure. Clinically, genetic variations in AS3MT influence individual susceptibility to arsenic toxicity, and the gene is associated with conditions such as centronuclear myopathy and specific lung carcinomas. |