Overview:

Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) catalyzes the biosynthesis of adrenaline though methylation of phenylethanolamine (1). PNMT gene is reported to be involved in various human diseases including early-onset Alzheimer disease (2), Parkinson's disease (3), and multiple sclerosis (4). Expression of PNMT can be stimulated by nicotine (5).

Gene Aliases:

PENT; PNMTase

Genbank Number:

NM_002686

References:

1. Kaneda, N., et al. Molecular cloning of cDNA and chromosomal assignment of the gene for human phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase, the enzyme for epinephrine biosynthesis. J Biol Chem. 263(16):7672-7, 1988.

2. Mann, M.B., et al. Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) gene and early-onset Alzheimer disease. Am J Med Genet. 105(4):312-6, 2001.

3. Gearhart, D.A., et al. Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase has beta-carboline 2N-methyltransferase activity: hypothetical relevance to Parkinson's disease. Neurochem Int. 40(7):611-20, 2002.

4. Mann, M.B., et al. Association between the phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase gene and multiple sclerosis. J Neuroimmunol. 124(1-2):101-5, 2002.

5. Evinger, M.J., et al. Nicotine stimulates expression of the PNMT gene through a novel promoter sequence. J Mol Neurosci. 26(1):39-55, 2005.