Enzymatic Formation of Psychotomimetic Metabolites from Normally Occurring Compounds

1961/08/04 by Julius Axelrod · 10 citations
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics · Psychology · #Chemical Reactions and Isotopes #Psychedelics and Drug Studies

paper · doi:10.1126/science.134.3475.343

openalex publication_date 1961/08/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

An enzyme has been found that N-methylates serotonin and tryptamine to psychotomimetic metabolites, bufotenine and N,N-dimethyltryptamine. This enzyme is highly localized in the rabbit lung and also N-methylates phenylethylamine derivatives such as tyramine, phenylethylamine , mescaline, and dopamine.

Citations

• Piptadenia Alkaloids. Indole Bases of P. peregrina (L.) Benth. and Related Species

Cited by

• Biosynthesis and Extracellular Concentrations of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in Mammalian Brain
• Rabbit Lung Indolethylamine N-Methyltransferase
• Psychotomimetic N -Methylated Tryptamines: Formation in Brain in vivo and in vitro
• The Hallucinogen N,N -Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Is an Endogenous Sigma-1 Receptor Regulator
• Biosynthesis of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) in a melanoma cell line and its metabolization by peroxidases
• Indole(ethyl)amine N-Methyltransferase in Human Brain
• A Review of Recent Studies of the Biosynthesis and Excretion of Hallucinogens Formed by Methylation of Neurotransmitters or Related Substances
• Estudio morfológico y morfométrico de la biopsia transbronquial en trasplante pulmonar y su evolución clínico-patológica
• Purification and substrate specificity of indoleamine-N-methyl transferase
• Dimethyltryptamine [wikipedia]