Post-translational protein modifications in type 1 diabetes: a role for the repair enzyme protein-l-isoaspartate (d-aspartate) O-methyltransferase?

Aims/hypothesis Post-translational modifications, such as isomerisation of native proteins, may create new antigenic epitopes and play a role in the development of the autoimmune response. Protein-l-isoaspartate (d-aspartate) O-methyltransferase (PIMT), encoded by the gene PCMT1, is an enzyme that recognises and repairs isomerised Asn and Asp residues in proteins. The aim of this study was to assess the role of PIMT in the development of type 1 diabetes.