Electrophoretic pattern of red blood cell catechol-o-methyltransferase in schizophrenia and manic-depressive illness.

Human red blood cell (RBC) catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) was analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). One major enzyme band (B) is observed after electrophoresis. In addition, a minor band (A) of COMT activity comprising no more than 25% of the total activity, is also detectable. The rate of migration during electrophoresis of both bands of RBC COMT was the same in manic depressive, schizophrenic, and normal individuals. These results did not reveal genetic variations in the COMT molecule among these three groups. Furthermore, when total RBC COMT was measured there were no statistically significant differences between schizophrenic, manic-depressive, and control individuals.