Anti-catechol-O-methyltransferase: demonstration of specificity and immunological cross-reactivity with the enzyme from rat liver, kidney, brain, and choroid plexuses.

An antiserum to rat liver catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) was utilized in the immunological characterization of COMT from rat kidney, brain, and choroid plexuses, in addition to rat liver. The presence of anti-COMT activity was confirmed by the direct inhibition of the activity of the enzyme from rat liver by small quantities of the antiserum and by the inhibition of the activity of the enzyme from rat brain. The specificity of the antiserum was demonstrated both by immunoelectrophoresis of rat liver COMT, and by a partial purification of rat liver COMT in which changes in COMT specific activity were correlated with the appearance of a precipitin line in double-immunodiffusion experiments. The antigenic similarity of the enzyme derived from rat liver, kidney, brain, and choroid plexuses was demonstrated by the formation of a precipitin line of identity when preparations from these four tissues were diffused against the antiserum.