Structural highlights
Function
[COMT_RAT] Catalyzes the O-methylation, and thereby the inactivation, of catecholamine neurotransmitters and catechol hormones. Also shortens the biological half-lives of certain neuroactive drugs, like L-DOPA, alpha-methyl DOPA and isoproterenol.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), an important therapeutic target in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, is also being developed for biocatalytic processes, including vanillin production, although lack of regioselectivity has precluded its more widespread application. By using structural and mechanistic information, regiocomplementary COMT variants were engineered that deliver either meta- or para-methylated catechols. X-ray crystallography further revealed how the active-site residues and quaternary structure govern regioselectivity. Finally, analogues of AdoMet are accepted by the regiocomplementary COMT mutants and can be used to prepare alkylated catechols, including ethyl vanillin.
Effects of Active-Site Modification and Quaternary Structure on the Regioselectivity of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase.,Law BJ, Bennett MR, Thompson ML, Levy C, Shepherd SA, Leys D, Micklefield J Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2016 Jan 21. doi: 10.1002/anie.201508287. PMID:26797714[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Law BJ, Bennett MR, Thompson ML, Levy C, Shepherd SA, Leys D, Micklefield J. Effects of Active-Site Modification and Quaternary Structure on the Regioselectivity of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2016 Jan 21. doi: 10.1002/anie.201508287. PMID:26797714 doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201508287
