Affinity labeling of catechol O-methyltransferase by N-haloacetyl derivatives of 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylamine and 3,4-dimethoxy-5-hydroxyphenylethylamine. Kinetics of inactivation.

In an attempt to elucidate the relationship between the chemical structure and the catalytic function of catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT), several classes of affinity labeling reagents have been synthesized and their interaction with COMT has been studied. Earlier studies have shown that various N-haloacetyl derivatives of 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylamine were effective affinity labeling reagents for this enzyme. In this report we have shown that N-haloacetyl derivatives of the isomeric 3,4-dimethoxy-5-hydroxyphenylethylamine also rapidly and irreversibly inactivate COMT ant they satisfy many of the criteria established for affinity labeling reagents. This latter group of agents appear to modify a nucleophilic residue at the active site of COMT different from that modified by the 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylamine series. Evidence to support this conclusion has been obtained by comparing the kinetics of COMT inactivation and the substrate protection profiles for these two classes of affinity labeling reagents.