S-Adenosyl-L-methionine: beyond the universal methyl group donor.

S-Adenosyl-l-methionine (AdoMet or SAM) is a substrate in numerous enzyme-catalyzed reactions. It not only provides methyl groups in many biological methylations, but also acts as the precursor in the biosynthesis of the polyamines spermidine and spermine, of the metal ion chelating compounds nicotianamine and phytosiderophores, and of the gaseous plant hormone ethylene. AdoMet is also the source of catalytic 5'-deoxyadenosyl radicals, produced as reaction intermediates by the superfamily of radical AdoMet enzymes. This review aims to summarize the present knowledge of catalytic roles of AdoMet in plant metabolism.