O-Methylation, the principal route of metabolism of epinephrine in man.

Evidence is presented which indicates that the principal pathway of metabolism of epinephrine in man is O-methylation to metanephrine. The extent of the conLversion to metanephrine, a physiologically inactive compound, indicates that the enzyme responsible for this reaction, catechol-O-methyl transferase, is the enzyme mainly involved in the termination of action of epinephrine in man.