The biosynthesis of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in vitro

Indoleamine-N-methyltransferase from rabbit and human lung catalyzes the N-methylation of 5-methoxytryptamine to form 5-methoxy-N-methyltryptamine, which in turn, is converted to 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine. S-Adenosylmethionine is the methyl donor for these reactions. There was no evidence for the 0-methylation of bufotenin by either S-adenosylmethionine or 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid using enzymes from rabbit lung, rat brain and liver, or chick heart.