title: Determination of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.
abstract: A highly sensitive assay method for phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase in rat adrenal medulla and brain is described which employs high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Epinephrine formed enzymatically from the substrate norepinephrine and isoproterenol (internal standard), after chromatography on a small cartridge of a cation exchanger, Toyopak SP, are converted into the corresponding fluorescent compounds by reaction with 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine, a selective fluorescence derivatization reagent for catechol compounds. The derivatives are separated by reversed-phase chromatography on TSK gel ODS-120T. The detection limit for epinephrine formed enzymatically is 0.66 pmol per assay tube.
mesh_terms: D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000201:enzymology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine