Determination of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Activity in Various Tissues by Liquid Chromatography

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ac50053a024

Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity was determined using liquid chromatography with amperometric detection.With dopamine as a substrate, the method allowed the individual determination of both posible product isomers in the various biological matrices investigated.The selectivity of the electrochemical detector proved advantageous in several aspects, including higher sample throughput, negligible blank values, and simplified chromatograms.The resolution of the reverse phase column permitted the incorporation of an internal standard, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzylamine,to improve the precision to less than 4percent RSD for either the 3- or 4-O-methyl product isomers.The use of the product isomer preference ratios may be of clinical significance.