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Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors block an enzyme that inactivates catecholamines such as dopamine. COMT transfers a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to one hydroxyl group of the catechol ring. Enzymatic O-methylation of epinephrine and related catechols was first described in 1958. The enzyme converts dopamine into 3-methoxytyramine, a metabolite also listed here as 3-methoxyTyramine HCl. A common functional polymorphism, reported in 1996, lowers COMT activity and is studied in neuropsychiatric research. Entacapone, tolcapone, opicapone and nebicapone are nitrocatechol inhibitors used to study catecholamine and levodopa metabolism. The listing also includes related monoamine compounds such as serotonin maleate.
