COMT
catechol-O-methyltransferase
Gene summary
A protein-coding gene on chromosome 22 (drug metabolism (phase i), neurotransmission). Catechol-O-methyltransferase catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to catecholamines, including the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. This O-methylation results in one of the major degradative pathways of the catecholamine transmitters.
Source: NCBI Gene, accessed 2026-10-07.
Protein reference (UniProt)
- Protein
Catechol O-methyltransferase
- Function
Catalyzes the O-methylation, and thereby the inactivation, of catecholamine neurotransmitters and catechol hormones. Also shortens the biological half-lives of certain neuroactive drugs, like L-DOPA, alpha-methyl DOPA and isoproterenol.
- Subcellular location
Cytoplasm; Cell membrane.
- Tissue specificity
Brain, liver, placenta, lymphocytes and erythrocytes.
- Associated conditions
Schizophrenia (SCZD).
Source: UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot P21964, release 2026_03, licensed CC BY 4.0. This is the protein’s normal biology, not evidence about post-drug syndromes; associated conditions are inherited disorders of the gene, not PFS, PSSD or PRSD.
Why its pathway is in the library
Phase I enzymes determine exposure to finasteride, SSRIs, and other implicated drugs; variation here shapes the likelihood and persistence of adverse effects. Monoamine, GABA, glutamate, and cholinergic systems are the direct pharmacologic targets of SSRIs/SNRIs (PSSD) and the downstream effectors of neurosteroid signaling (PFS).
Written for the whole drug metabolism / neurotransmission family, not for COMT specifically.
Mentioned in 4 corpus records
- Powers · Reddit commentCurated Powers pick
Re: CDG Theory
u/drwillpowers · r/DrWillPowers
Powers gave a deliberately simple account of calcium D-glucarate: as a beta-glucuronidase inhibitor it causes glucuronidated compounds and catechols to be dumped into the gut and lost rather than reabsorbed, leaving COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) with…
COMTHTR2CPRH-05602026PFSPSSDPRSDPowers Reddit history - Powers · Reddit commentCurated Powers pick
Re: I collect more and more labs/genome/dutch tests that support my theory on PFS. I really think I have it nailed down. I d...
u/drwillpowers · r/DrWillPowers
Powers argued that finasteride is an irreversible "suicide inhibitor" that permanently disables any 5AR enzyme it touches, requiring 2–3 weeks for the enzyme to be degraded and remade — so even a single pill can suffice if the patient's system is already at…
ABCC2ABCC5COMTPRH-13632026-04-04T15:55:18ZPFSPSSDPowers Reddit history - Powers · Reddit postCurated Powers pick
I'm starting to see trends in PSSD genomes, this is one. DBH
u/drwillpowers · r/DrWillPowers
Post body unavailable. From the title, Powers announced he was beginning to see recurring trends in the genomes of his PSSD patients, singling out DBH — dopamine beta-hydroxylase, the enzyme converting dopamine to norepinephrine — as one such trend. This is…
COMTDBHHTR2CUGT2B17PRH-07452026-06-11T23:41:29ZPFSPSSDPowers Reddit history - Powers · Reddit commentCurated Powers pick
Re: New Mental Clarity on HRT is Amazing
u/drwillpowers · r/autism
Replying to an r/autism OP reporting striking mental clarity in the first weeks of MTF HRT, Powers sketches a mechanism centered on COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase): the enzyme both clears catechol estrogens and breaks down dopamine. In slow-COMT (val/met)…
COMTPRH-15102026-08-21T23:00:14ZPowers Reddit history
Also in drug metabolism (phase i)
All 23 genes- CYP2D6
cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily D member 6 (gene/pseudogene)
chr 22· Drug metabolism· 6 records - CYP3A4
cytochrome P450 family 3 subfamily A member 4
chr 7· Drug metabolism· 2 records - CYP2C19
cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 19
chr 10· Drug metabolism· 1 record - CYP3A5
cytochrome P450 family 3 subfamily A member 5
chr 7· Drug metabolism· 1 record - MAOA
monoamine oxidase A
chr X· Drug metabolism· 1 record - AKR1B1
aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B
chr 7· Drug metabolism· Pathway candidate - AKR1B10
aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10
chr 7· Drug metabolism· Pathway candidate - ALDH1A1
aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1
chr 9· Drug metabolism· Pathway candidate
Browse by family on the gene families page.