Description
General description
3-Methyladenine (3-MA) is a methylated derivative of adenine that has been used as an In vivo marker for the methylation of DNA. 3-Methyladenine and 7-methylguanine are the two main N-methylpurines formed in DNA upon exposure to methylating agents. 3-MA is removed from damaged DNA via the DNA base excision repair pathway, which begins with the enzyme N-methylpurine DNA glycosylase. The dependence of 3-MA repair on nucleotide excision repair in mammalian cell lines has been studied.3-MA have been widely used as autophagy inhibitor based on its inhibitory effect on class I and class III PI3K activity, which is known to be essential for induction of autophagy. 3-MA blocks class I PI3K persistently, whereas its suppressive effect on class III PI3K is transient, understanding the dual role of 3-MA in autophagy thus suggests that caution should be exercised in the application of 3-MA in autophagy study.
Furthermore, 3-MA is also capable of making the reduction of lymphocyte number caused by chronic stress rebound, implying that inhibition of autophagy can rescue chronic stress-induced immunosuppression.
Autophagy has been reported to play an important role in the 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine MDMA-induced neurotoxicity in the mixed neuronal-glial primary culture and it was found that 3-MA ameliorate MDMA-induced autophagy, SERT loss, HPA axis dysfunction, and depressive behaviors.
Application
3-Methyladenine (3-MA) is used to inhibit and study the mechanism of autophagy (lysosomal self-degradation) and apoptosis under various conditions. 3-MA inhibits autophagy by blocking autophagosome formation via the inhibition of type III Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI-3K). For use as an autophagy inhibitor, 3-MA is typically used at a concentration of 5mM.
Preparation Note
3-Methyladenine ready made solution is provided at 50mM (7.5mg/mL) concentration in MES buffer.
It is recommended to store 3-methyladenine readymade solution at -20C.
In case percipitates are formed upon thaw, use sonication and heat to get the product back into solution.
It is recommended to avoid freeze thaw cycles.
When stored properly 3-Methyladenine readymade solution should be stable for 2 years.
