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netLibrary - eBook Summary Structure-based Drug Design by ...

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Figure 1<br />

The rationale of COMT inhibition as adjunct in the L-dopa therapy of<br />

Parkinson's disease (reproduced <strong>by</strong> permission from COMT News, Issue 1, Orion<br />

Corporation, Orion Pharma, 1994).<br />

Page 344<br />

research in pharmaceutical companies has been carried out to develop new potent, selective, and orally<br />

active COMT inhibitors. Some of them (e.g., entacapone), are now in final clinical trials and the results<br />

have been promising. The rationale of COMT inhibition can be seen in Figure 1. It can be concluded<br />

that COMT inhibition in peripheral tissues improves the brain entry of L-dopa and decreases the<br />

formation of 3-OMD. The dose of L-dopa can be lowered and the dose interval prolonged. Also a<br />

decrease of the fluctuations of dopamine formation has been observed. The inhibition of COMT seems<br />

to be the next step in improving the L-dopa therapy of Parkinson's disease. This paper discusses the<br />

structure-<strong>based</strong> approach for the understanding of the enzyme function and inhibitor design.<br />

II. The Enzyme<br />

A. Physiological Role of COMT<br />

Catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT, EC 2.1.1.6) was originally detected in rat liver extracts [1]. Since<br />

then, COMT has been found in many species:<br />

http://legacy.netlibrary.com/nlreader/nlReader.dll?bookid=12640&filename=Page_344.html (1 of 2) [4/5/2004 5:27:34 PM]

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