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Results for “Catechol O-Methyltransferase”

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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1976

Catechol O-methyltransferase in red blood cells of schizophrenic, depressed, and normal human subjects.

Catechol O-methyltransferase of lysed human red blood cells was assayed under optimal conditions, using saturating concentrations of the substrates, S-adenosyl-L-methionine and 3-4-dihydroxybenzoic acid. The mean enzyme activity found in 24 normal subjects was 29-2 nmol/hr/ml RBC. The mean activity in blood of 33 female unipolar depressives was not significantly different from normal. However, higher enzyme activities were observed in the blood of 11 schizophrenic patients (38-9 nmol/hr/ml RBC). Partially purified enzyme preparations from blood of normal and schizophrenic individuals were indistinguishable with respect to substrate specificities, isoelectric pH values, and ratios of the two O-methylated products. Therefore it is unlikely that any defect in O-methylation which may occur in schizophrenia can be attributed to a change in the intrinsic properties of erythrocyte catechol O-methyltransferase.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Evidence for sulfhydryl groups at the active site of catechol-O-methyltransferase.

Earlier studies using affinity labeling reagents have suggested the existence of two nucleophilic groups at the active site of catechol-O-methyltransferase (S-adenosyl-L-methionine:catechol O-methyltransferase, EC 2.1.1.6). Both nucleophilic residues are critical for catalytic activity. In an effort to elucidate the nature of these residues and to further characterize the relationship between the chemical structure and the catalytic function of this enzyme, inactivation studies using N-ethylmaleimide were undertaken. Inactivation of the enzyme by N-ethylmaleimide under pseudo first-order conditions exhibited a non-linear relationship between the log of the fraction of enzyme activity remaining and preincubation time. Kinetic analysis of this inactivation process suggested the modification by N-ethylmaleimide of two residues at the active site of the enzyme, both crucial for catalytic activity. Detailed analysis of the inactivation process including substrate protection studies, pH profiles of inactivation, and incorporation studies using N-ethyl[2,3-14C2]maleimide provided additional evidence to support this conclusion.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed1976

Biochemical differentiation of mechanically dissociated mammalian brain in aggregating cell culture.

Mouse and rat brain cells were dissociated by a simple mechanical sieving technique and studied in culture for the formation of aggregates and the activities of choline acetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase, glutamic acid decarboxylase, tyrosine 3-monooxygenase, aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase, catechol methyltransferase, and monoamine oxidase. Cells from fetal and neonatal tissue formed aggregates but not cells from tissue older than two days after birth. The pattern of development of enzyme activities in these aggregates varied with the age of starting tissue. The highest levels of specific activity for the neuron-specific enzymes were found after 3-4 weeks in culture for aggregates of cells derived from relatively undeveloped brains.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed2025

The importance of dopamine levels and single-nucleotide polymorphism within COMT, DRD1 and DRD2 genes in obstructive sleep apnoea.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep disorder that contributes to serious cardiovascular comorbidities. While the mechanical aspects of OSA are well-studied, its neurobiological underpinnings remain underexplored. In this study, we investigated the role of dopamine and its genetic modulators in OSA pathophysiology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum dopamine levels were assessed in a cohort of 153 participants (96 OSA patients and 57 controls), and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in dopamine-related genes, including COMT, DRD1 and DRD2, were analysed in a cohort of 286 participants (141 OSA patients and 145 controls). RESULTS: Elevated serum dopamine levels were observed in OSA patients (p = 0.01), with dopamine levels correlating independently with OSA and male gender. Genotypic analysis identified the DRD2 rs1800497 T allele as a potential independent predictor of OSA severity (p = 0.011), hypopnea (p = 0.005) and arousals (p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: This study advances the understanding of OSA by identifying elevated dopamine levels and genetic variations in DRD2 rs1800497 as potential modulators of its occurrence and severity. These findings pave the way for personalized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. By integrating neurobiology, genetics, and clinical practice, this research contributes to the evolving framework for precision medicine in sleep disorders.

Humans↗
PubMed1975

The neurochemistry of Parkinson's disease: effect of L-dopa therapy.

Post-mortem brain material from control and Parkinson's disease patients was examined to elucidate further the neurochemistry of this disease and to determine the mechanism of action of L-dopa as a therapeutic agent. The activities of L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (dopa D), tyrosine hydroxylase, monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyl transferase were examined; in addition the tissue levels of dopa, 3-O-methyldopa, dopamine (DA) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were determined. In the non-dopa-treated Parkinsonian patients, the greatest decreases were detected for striatal DA and dopa D, with homovanillic acid and tyrosine hydroxylase levels showing a lesser change. The activities of monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyl transferase in the striatal nuclei were not different from the controls. The putamen was consistently the most severely affected region. Dopa and 3-O-methyldopa were detectable in all brain areas only in those patients treated with L-dopa shortly before death. The mean concentrations of DA in the striatum of these patients were 1) 9 to 15 times higher than those in non-dopa-treated patients, 2) related to the time before death of the last dose of L-dopa and 3) greater in the striatum of patients clinically classified as "good responders" as compared to "poor responders." Although L-dopa therapy increased homovanillic acid levels in all brain areas, a preferential increase was observed in the striatum. It was concluded that L-dopa's principal therapeutic effects in Parkinson's disease are consistent with its transformation to DA in the striatum.

Aged↗
PubMed1976

Studies on adrenal phenylethanolamine N- methyltransferase (PNMT) with S K & F 64139, a selective inhibitor.

SK&F 64139 is a potent, reversible inhibitor of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase; its IC50 concentration in our standard assay system was 1 X 10(-7) M. Kinetically, the compound is a competitive inhibitor with respect to norepinephrine but is uncompetitive when S-adenosylmethionine is the variable substrate. In contrast to a previously reported compound (SK&F 7698), the drug is only a weak alpha receptor antagonist (KB = 6 X 10(-6) M). In both the rat and squirrel monkey, SK&F 64139 produced dose-dependent decreases in the adrenal epinephrine content coupled with stoichiometrically equivalent increases in the norepinephrine pool(s). Further evidence for in vivo phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase inhibitory activity was that the drug markedly inhibited the conversion of a tracer dose of 3H-norepinephrine to 3H-epinephrine in the rat adrenal gland after unit oral doses as low as 5 mg/kg.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of prolonged vasopressin administration on the level and metabolism of catecholamines in the rat brain and kidneys.

Dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) levels and activities of the enzymes metabolizing catecholamines were determined in the rat brain and kidneys during prolonged (4 weeks) administration of lysine vasopressin (LVP) and 2 weeks after its withdrawal. DA level was elevated during the whole period of experiment. NA level increased mainly after LVP withdrawal. Dopa-decarboxylase activity was elevated in all the experimental animals. Tyrosine and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activities increased at the final period of LVP administration and after its withdrawal. Activities of MAO and COMT were markedly increased only after 3 weeks of LVP administration.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Regional changes in [3H]-noradrenaline uptake, catecholamines and catecholamine synthetic and catabolic enzymes in rat brain following neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine treatment.

6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OH-DA) treatment of rats at birth (with the analyses conducted in the adult stage) produced marked regional variations in changes in endogenous noradrenaline (NA) and [3H]NA uptake in the CNS. The most pronounced reductions were seen in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and the spinal cord. Moderate changes or none at all were seen in the hypothalamus, septum and thalamus. Marked increases in endogenous NA and [3H]NA uptake were seen in the mesencephalon and the pons-medulla oblongata. There was in general a close correlation between the changes in endogenous NA and [3H]NA uptake. The results from the cerebellum varied, depending on the developmental stage at which the 6-OH-DA treatment was performed. 6-OH-DA treatment up to three days after birth generally led to a marked increase in both endogenous NA and [3H]NA uptake, while continuing the treatment caused a marked reduction of both parameters. The 6-OH-DA treatment caused no changes in endogenous dopamine (DA) in all regions analysed. Enzyme activity assays showed that DA-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were greatly reduced in the cerebral cortex, while the activity of both enzymes was almost double in the pons-medulla. No changes in the activity of phenylethanol-amine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), DOPA decarboxylase, COMT and MAO were seen after 6-OH-DA at birth. Measurements of choline acetyltransferase activity displayed only minute changes. The present results strongly support the view that 6-OH-DA treatment in the neonate stage produces a very selective action on NA neurones belonging to the locus coeruleus system from a structural standpoint, leaving DA- and PNMT-containing neurones unaffected. [3H]NA uptake in whole CNS was almost unchanged, despite the marked regional variations. The results have been interpreted as being due to a 'pruning effect', where the permanent NA denervation in distant nerve terminal projections (e.g. cerebral cortex) leads to a compensatory sprouting and increased outgrowth of NA terminal projections in areas close to the perikarya (e.g. pons-medulla). Furthermore, the results support the view that the growing locus coeruleus neurones are strictly programmed to produce a certain quantity of nerve terminal volume and arborization during the postnatal development.

Age Factors↗