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"Charles T. Meyer MD" wrote: > Sorry Sylvia, > > I have trouble describing the pathways. They are confusing and I have > difficulty anyway. I will try again. > > The question was what does COMT usually bind with if Comtan and levodopa are > not present- that is what is its usual function? In the peripheral > circulation (meaning all the circulation that is not protected by the blood > brain barrier )there are many circulating amines called catacholamines which > are degraded through the COMT pathway in a similar way to the way L-dopa is > broken down. These include epinepherine, norepinepherine, seratonin and > even dopamine (which cannot cross the blood brain barrier to get to where we > need it.) This is a secondary pathway meaning that other metabolic pathways > also exist which can metabolize the drugs and circulating amines produced by > the body if one is blocked. > > Does this help? > > Charlie > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Sylvia Berger" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2000 9:34 PM > Subject: Re: Purpose of COMT enzyme? > > > "Charles T. Meyer MD" wrote: > > > > > If there were no Comtan or levodopa a number of amines including > > > catacholamines such as norepinepherine seratonin and dopamine exist in > > > theperipheral circulation most of which utilize the COMT pathway. > > > > Charlie - you lost me on this sentence - what did I miss? > > Sylvia Thanks Charlie - I tink i got it :-)