Methyltetrahydrofolic acid mediates N- and O-methylation of biogenic amines.
A variety of mammalian and avian tissues N- and O-methylate indoleamines and phenylethylamines, with methyltetrahydrofolic acid as the methyl donor. Because it is considerably more efficient than S-adenosylmethionine, methyltetrahydrofolic acid may be the natural methyl donor in this reaction. With methyltetrahydrofolic acid, serotonin is O-methylated to 5-methoxytryptamine, a novel indoleamine in mammalian brain.
D000818:Animals; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002645:Chickens; D003067:Coenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008168:Lung / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008744:Methylamines / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology; D009655:Octopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D013763:Tetrahydrofolates / Q000378:metabolism; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000378:metabolism; D014439:Tyramine / Q000378:metabolism
D001679:Biogenic Amines; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D003067:Coenzymes; D006213:Hallucinogens; D008744:Methylamines; D013763:Tetrahydrofolates; D014363:Tryptamines; D009655:Octopamine; D012701:Serotonin; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine; D005492:Folic Acid; D008780:Methyltransferases; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase; D014439:Tyramine