Directed Evolution of a Halide Methyltransferase Enables Biocatalytic Synthesis of Diverse SAM Analogs

Biocatalytic alkylations are valuable for late-stage functionalization but are limited by the availability of S-adenosyl-l-methionine analogs. Directed evolution was used to create an engineered halide methyltransferase capable of converting cheap and readily available alkyl iodides into a number of SAM analogs. Used in cascades with methyltransferases, this enables chemo-, regio- and stereoselective alkylations which are difficult to achieve by chemical means.