Dopamine hydroxylase cofactor

Tyrosine monooxygenase uses biopterin as a cofactor. Biopterin is made in the body and is not a vitamin. Its structure resembles that of folic acid. Dopa decarboxylase is a vitamin B -requiring enzyme. Dopamine hydroxylase is a copper metalloenzyme. The active form of the enzyme contains copper in the reduced state (cuprous, Cu+). With each catalytic event, the copper is oxidized to the cupric state (Cu ). The enzyme uses ascorbic acid as a cofactor for converting the cupric copper back to cuprous copper. Thus, each catalytic event also results in the conversion of ascorbic acid to semidehydroascorbate. The semidehydroascorbate, perhaps by disproportionation, is converted to ascorbate and dehydroascorbate. The catalytic cycle of dopamine hydroxylase is shown in Figure 9,86. Dopamine hydroxylase, as well as the stored catecholamines, are located in special vesicles... 

Two possible mechanisms for the neurotoxicity of carbon disulfide have been suggested. One mechanism involves the formation of dithiocarbamates. The inhibitory effect of carbon disulfide on the activity of the copper-requiring enzyme dopamine- -hydroxylase was attributed to the formation of dithiocarbamates, which can complex copper (McKenna and DiStefano 1977b). Interference with the formation of this metabolite may be a potential strategy, albeit untested, to reduce neurotoxicity from carbon disulfide poisoning. An alternative mechanism postulated to explain the neurotoxic effect of carbon disulfide is the formation of a dithiocarbamate derivative, a form of vitamin B6, of pyridoxamine, with carbon disulfide (Vasak and Kopecky 1967). Since transaminases and amine oxidases require the pyridoxamine phosphate form of vitamin B6 as a cofactor, it was further postulated that these enzymes would be inhibited in carbon... 

Dopamine -hydroxylase catalyzes the side-chain hydrox-ylation of dopamine and other phenylethylamine derivatives. Ascorbic acid serves as a specific electron-donating cofactor. The enzyme from bovine adrenal glands contains and a smaller amount of Cu. When the enzyme oxidizes ascorbate to dehydroascorbate, most of the is reduced to Cu Added substrate is hydroxylated, and Cu is reoxidized to Cu This indicates that most of the protein-bound Cu undergoes cyclic reduction and oxidation during hydroxyhtion. The results also rule out an oxygen-carrier function for ascorbate. The possibility that a p-substituted hydroperoxide of the substrate is formed as an intermediate in the reaction has been examined with the use of 13,13 -tritium-labelled substrate. The results indicate that such an intermediate is unlikely. 

The final stage in the biosynthesis of NA involves a second mixed function oxidase, dopamine- -hydroxylase. This enzyme has been extensively purified from the bovine adrenal medulla, and is a copper-containing protein of molecular weight 290,000. Ascorbic acid acts as the cofactor (XHj). Enzyme activity is stimulated by catalytic amounts of fumaric acid and by certain other dicarboxylic acids. The enzyme has a broad substrate specificity, and will catalyse the /7-hydroxylation of a large number of phenylethylamine derivatives, including a number of sympathomimetic amines (Table 8). 

Methoxatin, now known as coenzyme PQQ, was originally obtained from methylotrophic bacteria but is now known to be a mammalian cofactor, for example, for lysyl oxidase and dopamine p-hydroxylase. The first synthesis of this rare compound was accomplished by the route outlined below. In the retrosynthetic analysis both of the heterocyclic rings were disconnected using directly keyed transforms. 

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydroxylation of tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxypheny-lalanine in the brain and adrenal glands. TH is the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of dopamine. This non-heme iron-dependent monoxygenase requires the presence of the cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin to maintain the metal in its ferrous state. 

As the rate-limiting enzyme, tyrosine hydroxylase is regulated in a variety of ways. The most important mechanism involves feedback inhibition by the catecholamines, which compete with the enzyme for the pteridine cofactor. Catecholamines cannot cross the blood-brain barrier hence, in the brain they must be synthesized locally. In certain central nervous system diseases (eg, Parkinson s disease), there is a local deficiency of dopamine synthesis. L-Dopa, the precursor of dopamine, readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and so is an important agent in the treatment of Parkinson s disease. 

These patients suffer from a genetic defect of dopamine synthesis, caused by reduced GTP cyclohydrolase activity. This enzyme is rate-limiting in the biosynthesis of tetra-hydrobiopterin, a cofactor of the dopamine-synthesizing enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (see Fig. 40-2). 

Figure 2.16. Pathways for the synthesis and metabolism of the catecholamines. A=phenylalanine hydroxylase+pteridine cofactor+Oj B tyrosine hydroxylase+ tetrahydropteridme+Fe+ +Oj C=dopa decarboxylase+pyridoxal phosphate D= dopamine beta-oxidase+ascorbate phosphate+Cu+ +Oj E=phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase+S-adenosylmethionine l=monoamine oxidase and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2=catechol-0-methyltransferase+S-adenosylmethionine.

BH4 is an obligatory cofactor for both tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylase. Consequently, the inborn errors of BH4 metabolism are associated with impaired dopamine and serotonin turnover, which is reflected by decreased concentrations of HVA and 5HIAA in the CSF. Whilst such a pattern is particularly true for the autosomal recessive disorders of BH4 metabolism, an autosomal dominant disorder of BH4 metabolism, (autosomal dominant GTP cyclohydrolase deficiency) is not always associated with marked decreases in the CSF concentration of HVA and 5HIAA [1]. 

The production of dopamine and norepinephrine in your brain begins with the amino acid tyrosine, which is obtained from your diet. Tyrosine is converted to the amino acid levodopa, or L-DOPA, by the en2yme tyrosine hydroxylase. One very important cofactor is iron. Without iron, tyrosine hydroxylase fails to function normally. People with anemia have reduced body levels of iron and, as consequently, may have reduced tyrosine hydroxylase activity and thus reduced production of norepinephrine and dopamine. The decreased brain levels of these important neurotransmitters may lead to a slight depression, although most likely only in people with severe anemia. Generally, in a normal healthy person, the production of these two neurotransmitters is not easily affected by the contents of the diet. 

One of the best characterized physiological functions of (6R)-tetrahydrobio-pterin (BH4, 43) is the action as a cofactor for aromatic amino acid hydroxylases (Scheme 28). There are three types of aromatic amino acid hydroxylases phenylalanine hydroxylase [PAH phenylalanine monooxygenase (EC 1.14.16.1)], tyrosine hydroxylase [TH tyrosine monooxygenase (EC 1.14.16.2)] and tryptophan hydroxylase [TPH tryptophan monooxygenase (EC 1.14.16.4)]. PAH converts L-phenylalanine (125) to L-tyrosine (126), a reaction important for the catabolism of excess phenylalanine taken from the diet. TH and TPH catalyze the first step in the biosyntheses of catecholamines and serotonin, respectively. Catecholamines, i.e., dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline, and serotonin, are important neurotransmitters and hormones. TH hydroxylates L-tyrosine (126) to form l-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, 127), and TPH catalyzes the hydroxylation of L-tryptophan (128) to 5-hydroxytryptophan (129). The hydroxylated products, 127 and 129, are decarboxylated by the action of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase to dopamine (130) and serotonin (131), respectively. 

The ability to synthesise ascorbic acid from glucose is absent in a small group of animal species that include man, primates, the guinea pig and the fruit-bat this is due to the absence of the gene that codes for one of the enzymes required for ascorbate synthesis. These species are therefore dependent on an external source of the vitamin in their diet and it is needed as a cofactor for several hydroxylase enzymes, notably the iron-dependent proline and lysine hydroxylases and the copper-dependent dopamine-(3-hydroxylase the function of ascorbate in these enzymes is likely to be its ability to keep the metal in the reduced form which is necessary for hydroxylation. The ability of ascorbate to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+ is important in promoting the gastrointestinal uptake of iron and for its release from the iron store ferritin. 

The copper metalloenzymes are involved in oxygen-using reactions. These enzymes include cytochrome c oxidase (respiratory chain), lysyl oxidase (collagen synthesis), and dopamine [3-hydroxylase (neurotransmitter synthesis). Lysyl oxidase is a small protein with a molecular weight of 32 kDa. This enzyme contains an unusual modification, namely cross-linking between two different parts of its polypeptide chain. The cross-linked region consists of a structure called lysine tyrosylquinone (Klinman, 1996). Two amino acids are involved in this cross-linked structure, and these are Lys 314 and Tyr 349. Lysine tyrosylquinone is used as a cofactor and is necessary for the catalytic activity of the enzyme. Other copper metalloenzymes contain a related cofactor, namely 2,4,5-tiihydrox5q5henylalanine (topaquinone, TPQ). Serum amino oxidase is a copper metalloenzyme that contains TPQ. TPQ consists of a modified residue of phenylalanine. The copper in the active site of the enzyme occurs immediately adjacent to the TPQ cofactor. 

In about 2% of cases, hyperphenylalaninemia is due to a deficiency of either biosynthesis or recycling of BH4, the cofactor of phenylalanine hydroxylase and related enzymes (see Figure 55-5). These infants could be diagnosed with PKU at first, but they deteriorate neurologically despite adequate dietary control. BH4 is a cofactor for phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan hydroxylases. The latter two enzymes are involved in the synthesis of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, BH4 is also a cofactor for nitric... 

The fourth class, the pterin-dependent hydroxylases, includes the aromatic amino acid hydroxylases, which use tetrahydrobiopterin as cofactor for the hydroxylation of Phe, Tyr, and Trp. The latter two hydroxylases catalyse the rate-limiting steps in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitters/hormones dopamine/noradreanalme/ adrenaline and serotonin, respectively. 

Genetic and nutritional studies have illustrated the essential nature of copper for normal brain function. Deficiency of copper during the foetal or neonatal period will have adverse effects both on the formation and the maintenance of myelin (Kuo et al., 2001 Lee et al., 2001 Sun et al., 2007 Takeda and Tamana, 2010). In addition, various brain lesions will occur in many brain regions, including the cerebral cortex, olfactory bulb, and corpus striamm. Vascular changes have also been observed. It is also of paramount importance that excessive amounts of copper do not occur in cells, due to redox mediated reactions such that its level within cells must be carefully controlled by regulated transport mechanisms. Copper serves as an essential cofactor for a variety of proteins involved in neurotransmitter synthesis, e.g. dopamine P-hydroxylase, which transforms dopamine to nor-adrenahne, as well as in neuroprotection via the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase present in the cytosol. Excess free copper is however deleterious for cell metabolism, and therefore intracellular copper concentration is maintained at very low levels, perhaps as low as 10 M. Brain copper homeostasis is still not well understood. 

The next step in the catecholamine biosynthesis is side-chain hydroxylation of DA to NE. The enzyme dopamine (3-hydroxylase (DBH) catalyzes this reaction. This enzyme, like TH, is a mixed-function oxidase utilizing molecular 02, in this case to add the OH onto the (3-carbon of the phenelthylamine side chain. DBH is a Cu2+-containing enzyme that, with ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) as a cofactor, carries out the necessary electron transfers. 

Neurons that secrete norepinephrine synthesize it from dopamine in a hydroxylation reaction catalyzed by dopamine (3-hydroxylase (DBH). This enzyme is present only within the storage vesicles of these cells. Like tyrosine hydroxylase, it is a mixed-function oxidase that requires an electron donor. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) serves as the electron donor and is oxidized in the reaction. Copper (Cu ) is a bound cofactor required for the electron transfer. 

Many quinoline derivatives are important biologically active agents. 8-Hydroxyquinoline and some of its halogenated derivatives are used as antiseptics. Chloroquine 111 is one of the older but still important antimalarials. A -Alkyl-4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acid and systems derived therefrom are constituents of antibacterials (gyrase inhibitors [112]) such as nalidixic acid 112, ciprofloxazin 113 and moxifloxazin 114. The quinoline-8-carboxylic acid derivative 115 (quinmerac) is employed as a herbicide for Galium aparine and other broad-leaved weeds. Methoxatin 116, known as coenzyme PQQ is a heterotricyclic mammalian cofactor for lysyl oxidase and dopamine P-hydroxylase [113]. 

Reactions 2, 3, and 4 tell us little about how oxygen is activated during the hydroxylation reaction, and at the moment one can only speculate about the details. The scheme and the results on which it is based do, however, rule out several general types of hydroxylation mechanism. The fact that the enzyme can be reduced anaerobically by ascorbate to a form which actively supports substrate hydroxylation in the absence of ascorbate rules out any mechanism for this enzyme-catalyzed reaction in which the ascorbate functions as an oxygen carrier. Such a role has been postulated for tetrahydropteridines (id), which can serve as specific electron-donating cofactors (just as ascorbate does with dopamine )S-hydroxylase) in certain aromatic hydroxylation reactions (iO, 12). 

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