Epinephrine (adrenalin; see also Chapter 6 Opening) is produced in your body in a two-step process that accomplishes the transfer of a methyl group from methionine (Problem 70) to norepinephrine (see reactions 1 and 2 below),
(a) Explain in detail what is going on mechanistically in these two reactions, and analyze the role played by the molecule of ATP.
(b) Would you expect methionine Jo react directly with norepinephrine? Explain,
(c) Propose a laboratory synthesis of epinephrine from norepinephrine.
Reaction 1

Reaction 2

NH2 NH2 CH HOC HOC Methionine ATP S-Adenosylmethionine Triphosphate HO H NH, HOYA / '\CH.NH: S-Adenosylmethionine + HI CH CH.SCH.R HOC HO Norepinephrine NH S-Adenosylhomocysteine HO H HO HO Epinephrine