Description
Catechol O-methyltransferase, also called COMT, is one of the major mammalian enzymes involved in the metabolic degradation of catecholamines. This gene is mapped to 22q11.21. Catechol-O-methyltransferase catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to catecholamines, including the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. This O-methylation results in one of the major degradative pathways of the catecholamine transmitters. In addition to its role in the metabolism of endogenous substances, COMT is important in the metabolism of catechol drugs used in the treatment of hypertension, asthma, and Parkinson disease. It is found in two forms in tissues, a soluble form (S-COMT) and a membrane-bound form (MB-COMT). The differences between the two forms reside within the N-termini