Arsenic 3 methyltransferase (AS3MT) automethylates on cysteine residues in vitro

Arsenic toxicity is a global concern to human health causing increased incidences of cancer, bronchopulmonary, and cardiovascular diseases. In human and mouse, inorganic arsenic (iAs) is metabolized in a series of methylation steps catalyzed by arsenic (3) methyltransferase (AS3MT), forming methylated arsenite (MAsIII), dimethylarsenite (DMAIII) and the volatile trimethylarsine (TMA). The methylation of arsenic is coordinated by four conserved cysteines proposed to participate in catalysis, namely C33, C62, C157, and C207 in mouse AS3MT. The current model consists of AS3MT methylating iAs in the presence of the cofactor S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), and the formation of intramolecular disulfide bonds following the reduction of MAsV to MAsIII. In the presence of endogenous reductants, these disulfide bonds are reduced, the enzyme re-generates, and the second round of methylation ensues. Using in vitro methylation assays, we find that AS3MT undergoes an initial automethylation step in the absence of iAs. This automethylation is enhanced by glutathione (GSH) and dithiothreitol (DTT), suggesting that reduced cysteines accept methyl groups from SAM to form S-methylcysteines. Following the addition of iAs, automethylation of AS3MT is decreased. Furthermore, using a Flag-AS3MT immunoprecipitation coupled to MS/MS, we identify both C33 and C62 as acceptors of the methyl group in vivo. Site-directed mutagenesis (C to A) revealed that three of the previously described cysteines were required for AS3MT automethylation. In vitro experiments show that automethylated AS3MT can methylate iAs in the presence of SAM. Thus, we propose that automethylated may represent an active conformation of AS3MT. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00204-022-03248-8.