S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) has rapidly moved from being a methyl donor to a key
metabolite that regulates hepatocyte growth, death, and differentiation. Biosynthesis of
SAMe occurs in all mammalian cells as the first step in methionine catabolism in a reaction
catalyzed by methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT). Decreased hepatic SAMe biosynthesis
is a consequence of all forms of chronic liver injury. In an animal model of chronic liver
SAMe deficiency, the liver is predisposed to further injury and develops spontaneous …