Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 6, 2026

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
Published on: July 9, 2015
Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in erythrocytes of women taking oral contraceptive steroids
Abstract:
We have measured catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity in erythrocytes (red blood cells, RBCs) obtained from 64 women taking oral contraceptives steroids and compared these values with those found in RBCs obtained from 73 women using nonsteroidal contraceptives. The COMT activity in the RBCs of women taking oral contraceptives steroids and of women not taking contraceptive steroids was 9.1 +/- 0.28 (mean and standard error) and 8.8 +/- 0.26 nmoles 2-methoxyestrone X ml-1 RBC X hr-1, respectively. This difference in the COMT activity in RBCs from these two groups of women was not statistically significant. This finding differs from that of others who found that COMT activity in RBCs of women taking oral contraceptive steroids was greater than that of women not taking such drugs.
More Related Videos
10:44Mass Spectrometry and Luminogenic-based Approaches to Characterize Phase I Metabolic Competency of In Vitro Cell Cultures
Published on: March 28, 2017
10:33Efficient Purification and LC-MS/MS-based Assay Development for Ten-Eleven Translocation-2 5-Methylcytosine Dioxygenase
Published on: October 15, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Oogenesis
Hormonal Control of the Ovarian Cycle
Before puberty, the hypothalamus releases GnRH in a low frequency, low amplitude pulsatile manner. This along with the immature hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis activity, results in low estrogen levels and the absence of a fully functional ovarian cycle. At puberty, GnRH secretion increases in both frequency and...
Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...
Pharmacogenetics of Phase I Enzymes: Cytochrome P450 Isozymes
Pharmacogenetics of Phase II Enzymes: N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase