Q13126

MTAP (also designated MSAP) catalyzes the reversible phosphorolysis of methylthioadenosine, which is important in polyamine metabolism and for the salvage of adenine and methionine. The gene encoding MTAP maps to human chromosome 9p21 and is linked to the tumor suppressor gene, p16INK4A (2,3). Deficient levels of MTAP can occur in cancers primarily through codeletion of the MTAP gene and the p16INK4A gene (4-6). Cells expressing MTAP and possessing adenine salvage pathway activity may be less susceptible to malignancy due to growth-inhibitory actions of agents (e.g. antifolates), whose mechanism of action, in part, involves this.