Gene

Cell biology

Methyltransferase

Biology

Epigenetics

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

Niacinamide

Cancer research

Biochemistry

DNA methylation

Biomarker

Bioinformatics

NAD+ kinase

Acetylation

Methylation

Enzyme

Nicotinamide

Chemistry

Gene expression

Cell Death and Disease

Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is an intracellular methyltransferase, catalyzing the N-methylation of nicotinamide (NAM) to form 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MNAM), in which S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) is the methyl donor. High expression of NNMT can alter cellular NAM and SAM levels, which in turn, affects nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent redox reactions and signaling pathways, and remodels cellular epigenetic states. Studies have revealed that NNMT plays critical roles in the occurrence and development of various cancers, and analysis of NNMT expression levels in different cancers from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset indicated that NNMT might be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for tumor diagnosis and treatment. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of recent advances on NNMT functions in different tumors and deciphers the complex roles of NNMT in cancer progression.

Complex roles of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase in cancer progression