dopa decarboxylase

the intermediate enzyme in the metabolism of catecholamines from the dietary amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine is transformed to L-dopa by tyrosine hydroxylase. L-dopa is in turn converted to dopamine by dopa decarboxylase, which also transforms a number of other aromatic amino acids. Dopamine is the final product in dopaminergic neurons; in adrenergic neurons, dopamine is transformed by the enzyme dopamine beta-hydroxylase to norepinephrine and subsequently—in specialized cells in the adrenal medulla and other sites, via the action of the enzyme phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase—to epinephrine. Also called aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase.

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Psychology term of the day

September 10th 2024

borna disease

a disease of mammals (especially horses) that is caused by a virus and can be transmitted to humans, typically via intranasal infection. It usually results in encephalopathy, which leads to ataxia, blindness, and other neurological disorders.