Aromatic acid decarboxylase

Non-oxidafive novel aromatic acid decarboxylases, pyrrole-2-carboxylate decarboxylase and indole-3-carboxylate decarboxylase, were found in Bacillus... 

We have presented evidence that pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid decarboxylates in acid via the addition of water to the carboxyl group, rather than by direct formation of C02.73 This leads to the formation of the conjugate acid of carbonic acid, C(OH)3+, which rapidly dissociates into protonated water and carbon dioxide (Scheme 9). The pKA for protonation of the a-carbon acid of pyrrole is —3.8.74 Although this mechanism of decarboxylation is more complex than the typical dissociative mechanism generating carbon dioxide, the weak carbanion formed will be a poor nucleophile and will not be subject to internal return. However, this leads to a point of interest, in that an enzyme catalyzes the decarboxylation and carboxylation of pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid and pyrrole respectively.75 In the decarboxylation reaction, unlike the case of 2-ketoacids, the enzyme cannot access the potential catalysis available from preventing the internal return from a highly basic carbanion, which could be the reason that the rates of decarboxylation are more comparable to those in solution. Therefore, the enzyme cannot achieve further acceleration of decarboxylation. In the carboxylation of pyrrole, the absence of a reactive carbanion will also make the reaction more difficult however, in this case it occurs more readily than with other aromatic acid decarboxylases. 

The blood-brain barrier is a biochemical as well as a physical barrier. Brain endothelial cells create an enzymatic barrier composed of secreted proteases and nucleotidases, as well as intracellular metabolizing enzymes such as cytochrome P-450. Furthermore, y-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, and aromatic acid decarboxylase are more prevalent in cerebral microvessels than in nonneuronal capillaries. The efflux transporter P-glycoprotein and other extrusion pumps are present on the membrane surface of endothelial cells, juxtaposed toward the interior of the capillary. Furthermore, CNS endothelial cells display a net negative charge at the interior of the capillaries and at the basement membrane. This provides an additional selective mechanism by impeding passage of anionic molecules across the membrane. 

The catecholamines - dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine are successively derived from tyrosine. S m-thesis occurs in the nerve terminals and in the adrenal gland. Tyrosine hydroxylase catalyzes the first step (Figure 10.2a) and is the major site of regulation (inhibition by dopamine and noradrenaline, activation by cAMP). This step gives rise to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), which in turn is a substrate for L-aromatic acid decarboxylase. De-... 

HT is synthesized in serotonergic nerve terminals from tryptophan in a series of reactions catalyzed by tryptophan hydroxylase and L-aromatic acid decarboxylase,... 

Together with dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline belong to the endogenous catecholamines that are synthesized from the precursor amino acid tyrosine (Fig. 1). In the first biosynthetic step, tyrosine hydroxylase generates l-DOPA which is further converted to dopamine by the aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase ( Dopa decarboxylase). Dopamine is transported from the cytosol into synaptic vesicles by a vesicular monoamine transporter. In sympathetic nerves, vesicular dopamine (3-hydroxylase generates the neurotransmitter noradrenaline. In chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla, approximately 80% of the noradrenaline is further converted into adrenaline by the enzyme phenylethanolamine-A-methyltransferase. 

The immediate metabolic precursor to dopamine, l-DOPA (L-dihydroxphenylalanine) is converted to the active neurotransmitter dopamine by the action of the enzyme aromatic amine acid decarboxylase (AADC). l-DOPA (INN name Levodopa) is the main diug used to treat Parkinson s disease. 

The synthesis and metabolism of trace amines and monoamine neurotransmitters largely overlap [1]. The trace amines PEA, TYR and TRP are synthesized in neurons by decarboxylation of precursor amino acids through the enzyme aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). OCT is derived from TYR. by involvement of the enzyme dopamine (3-hydroxylase (Fig. 1 DBH). The catabolism of trace amines occurs in both glia and neurons and is predominantly mediated by monoamine oxidases (MAO-A and -B). While TYR., TRP and OCT show approximately equal affinities toward MAO-A and MAO-B, PEA serves as preferred substrate for MAO-B. The metabolites phenylacetic acid (PEA), hydroxyphenylacetic acid (TYR.), hydroxymandelic acid (OCT), and indole-3-acetic (TRP) are believed to be pharmacologically inactive. 

Trace Amines. Figure 1 The main routes of trace amine metabolism. The trace amines (3-phenylethylamine (PEA), p-tyramine (TYR), octopamine (OCT) and tryptamine (TRP), highlighted by white shading, are each generated from their respective precursor amino acids by decarboxylation. They are rapidly metabolized by monoamine oxidase (MAO) to the pharmacologically inactive carboxylic acids. To a limited extent trace amines are also A/-methylated to the corresponding secondary amines which are believed to be pharmacologically active. Abbreviations AADC, aromatic amino acid decarboxylase DBH, dopamine b-hydroxylase NMT, nonspecific A/-methyltransferase PNMT, phenylethanolamine A/-methyltransferase TH, tyrosine hydroxylase. 

Decarboxylation of histidine to histamine is catalyzed by a broad-specificity aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase that also catalyzes the decarboxylation of dopa, 5-hy-droxytryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. a-Methyl amino acids, which inhibit decarboxylase activity, find appfication as antihypertensive agents. Histidine compounds present in the human body include ergothioneine, carnosine, and dietary anserine (Figure 31-2). Urinary levels of 3-methylhistidine are unusually low in patients with Wilson s disease. 

By contrast, the cytoplasmic decarboxylation of dopa to dopamine by the enzyme dopa decarboxylase is about 100 times more rapid (Am 4x 10 " M) than its synthesis and indeed it is difficult to detect endogenous dopa in the CNS. This enzyme, which requires pyridoxal phosphate (vitamin B6) as co-factor, can decarboxylate other amino acids (e.g. tryptophan and tyrosine) and in view of its low substrate specificity is known as a general L-aromatic amino-acid decarboxylase. 

Figure 13.7 Synthesis and structure of the trace amines phenylethylamine, /)-tyramine and tryptamine. These are all formed by decarboxylation rather than hydroxylation of the precursors of the established monoamine neurotransmitters, dopamine and 5-HT. (1) Decarboxylation by aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (2) phenylaline hydroxylase (3) tyrosine hydroxylase (4) tryptophan hydroxylase...

Because LCEC had its initial impact in neurochemical analysis, it is not, surprising that many of the early enzyme-linked electrochemical methods are of neurologically important enzymes. Many of the enzymes involved in catecholamine metabolism have been determined by electrochemical means. Phenylalanine hydroxylase activity has been determined by el trochemicaUy monitoring the conversion of tetrahydro-biopterin to dihydrobiopterin Another monooxygenase, tyrosine hydroxylase, has been determined by detecting the DOPA produced by the enzymatic reaction Formation of DOPA has also been monitored electrochemically to determine the activity of L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase Other enzymes involved in catecholamine metabolism which have been determined electrochemically include dopamine-p-hydroxylase phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase and catechol-O-methyltransferase . Electrochemical detection of DOPA has also been used to determine the activity of y-glutamyltranspeptidase The cytochrome P-450 enzyme system has been studied by observing the conversion of benzene to phenol and subsequently to hydroquinone and catechol... 

Albert, V. R., Allen, J. M., and Joh, T. H. (1987). A single gene codes for aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase in both neuronal and non-neuronal tissues. J. Biol. Chem. 262 9404-9411. 

Ichinose, H., Kurosawa, Y., Titani, K., Fujita, K., and Nagatsu, T. (1989). Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone encoding human aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 164 1024-1030. 

Jaeger, C. B., Teitelman, G Joh, T. H., Albert, V. R Park, D. H., and Reis, D. J. (1983). Some neurons of the rat central nervous system contain aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase but not monoamines. Science 219 1233-1235. 

Lovenberg, W Weissbach, W., and Udenfriend, S. (1962). Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase. J. Biol. Chem. 237 89-93. 

Nagatsu, T., Ichinose, H., Kojima, K., Kameya, T., Shimase, J., Kodama, T., and Shimosato, U. (1985). Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase activities in human lung tissues comparison between normal lung and lung carcinomas. Biochem. Med. 34 52-59. 

Rahman, M. K Nagatsu, T., and Kato, T. (1981). Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase activity in central and peripheral tissues and serum of rats with L-DOPA and L-5-hydroxytryptophan as substrates. Biochem. Pharmacol. 30 645-649. 

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