Catechol-O-methyltransferase (
COMT; ) is one of several
enzymes that degrade
catecholamines such as
dopamine,
epinephrine, and
norepinephrine. In humans, catechol-
O-methyltransferase protein is encoded by the
COMT gene. As the regulation of catecholamines is impaired in a number of medical conditions, several pharmaceutical drugs target COMT to alter its activity and therefore the availability of catecholamines. COMT was first discovered by the
biochemist Julius Axelrod in 1957.