The enzyme, characterized from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, enhances the activity of EC 2.4.1.15, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, resulting in elevating the levels of trehalose in the cell and contributing to stationary phase survival. In vitro the enzyme performs S-methylation of L-cysteine residues of various protein substrates.
Purification, characterization, sequencing and molecular cloning of a novel cysteine methyltransferase that regulates trehalose-6-phosphate synthase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.