The article discusses the development of a universal, continuous, and cell lysate-compatible assay for SAM-dependent methyltransferases. This assay is based on the enzymatic conversion of SAH to hydrogen sulfide, which can be fluorometrically detected in crude cell lysates. The assay addresses the limitations of current high-throughput screening methods for methyltransferase activity, such as the need for purified proteins and high background signals. The new assay demonstrates high sensitivity and selectivity, making it suitable for screening a wide range of methyltransferase variants and substrates. The study also highlights the potential applications of this assay in drug development and enzyme engineering.

X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (XLHED), a rare genetic disorder, has been treated successfully with a recombinant ectodysplasin A1 replacement protein, Fc-EDA. The treatment was administered either postnatally or prenatally at 26 weeks of pregnancy. Long-term follow-up showed that prenatal treatment led to the development of sweat glands and the ability to sweat, which are typically absent in untreated individuals with XLHED. The study supports further clinical investigation of EDA1 replacement therapy in utero as a new means of treating genetic disabilities.