Distribution of Histamine-N-methyltransferase in Nature.

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Abstract
A survey has been made on the distribution of histamine-N-methyl-transferase in various types of living material. The enzyme, which catalyzes the methyl group transfer from S-adenosyl-methionine to histamine, has been found in the livers of all vertebrates investigated except rat. Other organs of the animals as brain, lung, and kidney also contain significant enzyme activity. By the methods used no enzyme activity could be found in the invertebrates, plants, or microorganisms studied. Some supernatant fractions of liver were also tested for their possible ability to catalyze the N-methylation of tryptamine and serotonin. Of the animals tested only rat showed a slight ability to methylate both amines. Enzyme preparations from fish liver have been shown to be much more heat labile than those from other vertebrates tested.