Description
TPMT, thiopurine S-methyltransferase, is a cytosolic enzyme that metabolizes thiopurine drugs via S-adenosyl-L-methionine as the S-methyl donor and S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine as a byproduct. Thiopurine drugs such as 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine are used as chemotherapeutic agents. TPMT activity exhibits autosomal codominant genetic polymorphism, and patients inheriting TPMT-deficiency are at high risk of potentially fatal hematopoietic toxicity. Recombinant human TPMT was expressed in E.coli and purified by using conventional chromatography techniques