Cancer letters
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Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) plays an important role in the inactivation of biologically active and toxic catechols. It has been shown that human soluble COMT (S-COMT) is genetically polymorphic with a wild type and at least one variant in which a valine has been substituted with a methionine at codon 108. This polymorphism has been the subject of intense molecular epidemiological studies because of the important role of COMT in the metabolism of catecholamines and catechol estrogens. ⋯ The Ala22Ser variant showed lower methylation capacity and higher thermolability. In addition, this variant is sensitive to 4-OHEN mediated irreversible inhibition. Our data indicate that the Ala22Ser polymorphism might also be of functional significance and might play a role in susceptibility to estrogen-associated cancers.