Skip to main content
Log in

PhenylethanolamineN-methyltransferase from the brain and adrenal medulla of the rat

A comparison of their properties

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Neurochemical Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two different molecular forms of phenylethanolamineN-methyltransferase (PNMT, EC 2.1.1) have been isolated from the brain and adrenal glands of the rat as indicated by certain of their physicochemical properties, such as: molecular weight estimated on the basis of gel chromatography of Sephadex G-100; pH optima; electrophoretic mobility on acrylamide gel; and steady-state kinetic parameters. The highK m value for the brain PNMT has been assumed to be responsible for the low methylation ratio between norepinephrine and epinephrine in the CNS.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Axelrod, J. 1962. Purification and properties of phenylethanolamineN-methyltransferase. J. Biol. Chem. 37:1657–1660.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kirshner, N., andGoodall, M. 1957. The formation of adrenaline from noradrenaline. Biochem. Biophys. Acta 24:658–659.

    Google Scholar 

  3. McGeer, P. L., andMcGeer, E. G. 1964. Formation of adrenaline by brain tissue. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 17:502–507.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Ciaranello, R. D., Barchas, R. E., Byers, G. S., Stemmle, D. W., andBarchas, J. D. 1969. Enzymatic synthesis of adrenaline in mammalian brain. Nature 221:368–369.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Pohorecky, L. A., Zigmond, M., Karten, H., andWurtman, R. J. 1969. Enzymatic conversion of norepinephrine to epinephrine by the brain. J. Pharmacol Exp. Ther. 165:190–195.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Saavedra, J. M., Palkovits, M., Brownstein, M. J., andAxelrod, J. 1974. Localization of phenylethanolamineN-methyltransferase in the rat brain nuclei. Nature 248:695–696.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hökfelt, T., Fuxe, K., Goldstein, M., andJohansson, O. 1974. Immunohistochemical evidence for the existence of adrenaline neurons in the rat brain. Brain Res. 66:235–251.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hökfelt, T., Fuxe, K., Goldstein, M., andJohansson, O. 1973. Evidence for adrenaline neurons in the rat brain. Acta Physiol. Scand. 89:286–288.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lew, J. Y., Matsumoto, Y., Pearson, J., Goldstein, M., Hökfelt, T., andFuxe, K. 1977. Localization and characterization of PNMT in the brain of various mammalian species. Brain Res. 119:199–210.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Pendleton, R. G., Khalsa, J., Gessuner, G., andSawyer, J. 1977. Studies on the characterization and inhibition of rat brain phenylethanolamineN-methyltransferase. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch. Pharmacol. 299:219–224.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Saavedra, J. M., Grobecker, H., andAxelrod, J. 1976. Adrenaline forming enzyme in brain stem: Elevation in genetic and experimental hypertension. Science 191:483–484.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Yu, P. H., Boulton, A. A., andWu, P. H. 1976. Some observations on the interaction of dopamine β-hydroxylase and its natural inhibitors in the rat brain. Can. J. Biochem. 54:988–991.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Smith, I., Seakins, J. W. T., andDayman, J. 1969. Phenolic acid. Pages 364–389,in Smith, I. (ed.), Chromatographic and Electrophoretic Techniques, 3rd ed. W. Heinemann Medical Books London.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Henry, D. P., Starman, B. J., Johsson, D. G., andWilliam, R. H. 1975. A sensitive radioenzymatic assay for norepinephrine in tissues and plasma. Life Sci 16:375–384.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Davis, B. J. 1964. Disc electrophoresis II. Method and application to human serum proteins. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 121:404–427.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wilkinson, G. N. 1961. Statistical estimations in enzyme kinetics. Biochem. J. 80:324–332.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Connett, R. J., andKirshner, N. 1970. Purification and properties of bovine phenylethanolamineN-methyltransferase. J. Biol. Chem. 245:329–334.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lee, H. S., Schulz, A. R., andFuller, R. W. 1974. Isolation of multiple forms of rabbit adrenal norepinephrineN-methyltransferase. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 163:735–741.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gooddall, McC. 1951. Studies of adrenaline and noradrenaline in mammalian heart and suprarenals. Acta Physiol. Scand. 24 (Suppl.):85.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Holzbauer, M. andSharman, D. F. 1972. The distribution of catecholamines in vertrebrates. Pages 110–185,in Blaschko, H. and Muscholl, E. (eds.), Catecholamines, Springer Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Mefford, I., Oke, A., Adams, R. M., andJonsson, G. 1977. Epinephrine localization in human brain stem. Neurosci. Lett. 5:141–145.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Koslow, S. H., andSchlumpf, M. 1974. Quantitation of adrenaline in rat brain nuclei and areas by mass fragmentography. Nature 251:530–531.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Gunne, L. M. 1962. Relative adrenaline content in brain tissue. Acta Physiol. Scand. 56:324–333.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Vogt, M. 1954. The concentration of sympathin in different parts of the nervous system under normal conditions and after the administration of drugs. J. Physiol. (London) 123:541–481.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yu, P.H. PhenylethanolamineN-methyltransferase from the brain and adrenal medulla of the rat. Neurochem Res 3, 755–762 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00965998

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00965998

Keywords

Navigation