Talk:Catechol-O-methyl transferase
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[edit] The Met Met polymorphism
a functional single nucleotide polymorphism (a common normal variant) of the gene for catechol-O-methyl transferase, has been shown to affect ratings of subjective well being when 621 women were measured with Experience sample monitoring, which is similar to mood assessment as response to beeping watch the Met Met form confers double the subjective mental sensation of well being from a wide variety of daily events. M Wichers with coauthors The Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase Val158Met Polymorphism and Experience of Reward in the Flow of Daily Life Neuropsychopharmacology (2008) 33, 3030–3036 doi:10.1038/sj.npp.1301520
[edit] www.nature.com/npp/journal/v33/n13/full/1301520a.html
note that the Ability to experience reward increased with the number of ‘Met’ alleles This differential effect of genotype was greater for events that were experienced as more pleasant. The effect size of genotypic moderation was quite large: subjects with the Val/Val genotype generated almost similar amounts of PA from a ‘very pleasant event’ as Met/Met subjects did from a ‘bit pleasant event’. Genetic variation with functional impact on cortical dopamine tone has a strong influence on reward experience in the flow of daily life.
Table 1 of the Wichers paper notes that persons with The Met Met phenotype describe events as very pleasant or pleasant with twice the numeric amplitude of those absent the met met genetic polymorphism: Very pleasant 0.437 as compared with .209 p<.001
[edit] COMT link
Someone should set a search link for "comt". i had to go through google to get to the Catechol-O-methyl transferase page.
Someone should set a search link for "comt". i had to go through google to get to the Catechol-O-methyl transferase page.
[edit] What does it do?
Happened across this article through the "Random article" page...and it makes very little sense. I understand enough biology to recognize the difference between an enzyme and a protein, but it's not immediately apparent what this particular enzyme does in the grand scheme of the organism in which it's part.
There's some mention of neurotransmitters towards the bottom, but that wouldn't lead me to assume that that's what this is.
An enzyme is simply a protein that functions as a catalyst. The name transferase, actually the ending -ase, is an indication this substance is an enzyme. Enzymes are necessary in most biochemical reactions to overcome the energy of activation, which is critical for a reaction to proceed. COMT is an enzyme needed for the biochemical reaction that breaksdown some catecholamines (neurotransmitters) therefore stopping their normal biochemical action.
[edit] Frequency of occurence in human population
It would be helpful to add info on frequencies of occurence for this gene, particularly as the connection to mental illness is very topical lately -SM 04:33, 11 December 2005 (UTC)
[edit] References needed
This is a good start, but references are needed for some of the statements 155.198.63.112 14:03, 12 April 2006 (UTC)
