Molecular cloning of cDNA for rat glycine methyltransferase.

Using a highly purified preparation of glycine methyltransferase mRNA, double-stranded cDNA was synthesized and inserted into the PstI site of pBR322. The resulting recombinant DNA was used to transform E. coli X 1776 by conventional methods. Among tetracycline-resistant transformants, a number of colonies were found to contain cDNA sequence for glycine methyltransferase as examined by hybrid-selected translation. A restriction endonuclease cleavage map was constructed covering about 720 base pairs. With the cDNA as the probe, the content of the glycine methyltransferase mRNA was quantitated in various rat tissues and was found to be proportional to the specific enzyme activity.