Dopamine p-oxidase

Fig. 2. Biosynthetic pathway for epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. The enzymes cataly2ing the reaction are (1) tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), tetrahydrobiopterin and O2 are also involved (2) dopa decarboxylase (DDC) with pyridoxal phosphate (3) dopamine-P-oxidase (DBH) with ascorbate, O2 in the adrenal medulla, brain, and peripheral nerves and (4) phenethanolamine A/-methyltransferase (PNMT) with. Cadenosylmethionine in the adrenal...

Neural cells convert tyrosine to epinephrine and norepinephrine (Figure 31—5). While dopa is also an intermediate in the formation of melanin, different enzymes hydroxylate tyrosine in melanocytes. Dopa decarboxylase, a pyridoxai phosphate-dependent enzyme, forms dopamine. Subsequent hydroxylation by dopamine P-oxidase then forms norepinephrine. In the adrenal medulla, phenylethanolamine-A -methyltransferase uti-hzes S-adenosyhnethionine to methylate the primary amine of norepinephrine, forming epinephrine (Figure 31-5). Tyrosine is also a precursor of triiodothyronine and thyroxine (Chapter 42). 

The answers are 318-d, 319-c, 320-a. (Hardman, pp 120-1220 Norepinephrine is synthesized from dopamine by dopamine-p-oxidase, which hydnoxylates the p-carbon This enzyme is localized in the amine storage granules. Norepinephrine is found in adrenergic fibers, the adrenal medulla, and in neurons in the locus ceruleus and lateral ventral tegmental fields of the CNS. 

I NA is formed by the action of dopamine-P-oxidase, which converts DA to NA dmgs such as disulfram inhibit this enzyme by depleting its cofactor copper. 

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. 

Copper is a component of many enzymes including amine oxidase, lysyl oxidase, ferroxidase, cytochrome oxidase, dopamine P-hydroxylase, superoxide dismutase and tyrosinase. This latter enzyme is present in melanocytes and is important in formation of melanin controlling the colour of skin, hair and eyes. Deficiency of tyrosinase in skin leads to albinism. Cu " ion plays an important role in collagen formation. 

Tyrosinase is a monooxygenase which catalyzes the incorporation of one oxygen atom from dioxygen into phenols and further oxidizes the catechols formed to o-quinones (oxidase action). A comparison of spectral (EPR, electronic absorption, CD, and resonance Raman) properties of oxy-tyrosinase and its derivatives with those of oxy-Hc establishes a close similarity of the active site structures in these proteins (26-29). Thus, it seems likely that there is a close relationship between the binding of dioxygen and the ability to "activate" it for reaction and incoiporation into organic substrates. Other important copper monooxygenases which are however of lesser relevance to the model studies discussed below include dopamine p-hydroxylase (16,30) and a recently described copper-dependent phenylalanine hydroxylase (31). 

The general scheme of the biosynthesis of catecholamines was first postulated in 1939 (29) and finally confirmed in 1964 (Fig. 2) (30). Although not shown in Figure 2, in some cases the amino acid phenylalanine [63-91-2] can serve as a precursor it is converted in the liver to (-)-tyrosine [60-18-4] by the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase. Four enzymes are involved in E formation in the adrenal medulla and certain neurons in the brain tyrosine hydroxylase, dopa decarboxylase (also referred to as L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase), dopamine-P-hydroxylase, and phenylethanolamine iV-methyltransferase. Neurons that form DA as their transmitter lack the last two of these enzymes, and sympathetic neurons and other neurons in the central nervous system that form NE as a transmitter do not contain phenylethanolamine N-methyl-transferase. The component enzymes and their properties involved in the formation of catecholamines have been purified to homogeneity and their properties examined. The human genes for tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine- 3-oxidase and dopa decarboxylase, have been cloned (31,32). It is anticipated that further studies on the molecular structure and expression of these enzymes should yield interesting information about their regulation and function. 

Fig. 1. A. Chemical structure of key molecules involved in the key steps in intracerebral synthesis and metabolism of dopamine. The successive steps are regulated by the enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AADC), monoamine oxidase (MAO) and dopamine-p-hydroxylase (DBH). B. Structure of key toxins and other drugs acting on dopamine neurones, including 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), a-methyl tyrosine, and amphetamine. For further details see Iversen and Iversen (1981) or Cooper et al. (1996).

Norepinephrine (NE), a catecholamine, was first identified as a neurotransmitter in 1946. In the peripheral nervous system, it is found as a neuro transmitter in the sympathetic postganglionic synapse. NE is synthesized by the enzyme dopamine-p-hydroxylase (DbH) from the precursor dopamine (which is derived from tyrosine via DOPA). The rate-limiting step is the production of DOPA by tyrosine hydroxylase, which can be activated through phosphorylation. NE is removed from the synapse by two mechanisms (1) catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT), which degrades intrasynaptic NE, and (2) the norepinephrine transporter (NET), the primary way of removing NE from the synapse. Once internalized, NE can be degraded by the intracellular enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO). 

Steps in the formation of classical neurotransmitters. AADC, amino acid decarboxylase AChE, acetylcholinesterase CAT, choline acetyltransferase COMT, catechol-O-methyltransfeiase DBH, dopamine P-hydroxylase DA, dopamine DOPA, dibydroxyphenylalanine GABA-T, GABA transaminase GAD, glutamic acid decarboxylase HD, histidine decarboxylase 5-HTP, 5-hydroxytrytophan MAO, monoamine oxidase PNMT, phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase TH, tyrosine hydroxylase TPH, tryptophan hydroxylase. 

An important aspect of the preparation and isolation of subcellular particles from brain regions is the criteria by which purity is assessed. Electron microscopy of the various subcellular fractions can provide among the best pieces of evidence for the presence in the preparation of the organelles or subcellular fragments of interest. However, a number of biochemical markers (usually enzymes) that have been established to be present in certain fractions can also be assayed to demonstrate the enrichment of the organelle of interest. For instance, acetylcholinesterase is a common marker for synap-tosomes dopamine-P-hydroxylase is a marker for catecholamine storage vesicles within the synaptosome and cytochrome c oxidase is a marker for mitochondria. Most of the enzymatic markers can be assayed routinely. 

If schizophrenia results from an elevated dopamine content of the brain, the fault may lie with either an oversupply or a reduced rate of metabolism of dopamine. The possibilities of reduced activity of monoamine oxidase or of dopamine P-hydroxylase have both been suggested. The plasma level of the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (Fig. 30-26) is elevated in schizophrenia and is correlated with the... 

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]. 

An aqueous extract of California poppy inhibited dopamine P hydroxylase and monoamine oxidase (MAO-B) (Kleber et al. 1995). 

Copper provides the essential functional part of a number of enzymes involved in oxidation and reduction reactions, including dopamine P-hydroxylase in the synthesis of noradrenaline and adrenaline, cytochrome oxidase in the electron transport chain (section 3.3.1.2) and superoxide dismutase, one of the enzymes involved in protection against oxygen radicals (section 7.4.3.1). Copper is also important in the oxidation of lysine to form the cross-links in collagen and elastin. In copper deficiency the bones are abnormally fragile, because the abnormal collagen does not permit the normal flexibility of the bone matrix. More importantly, elastin is less elastic than normal and copper deficiency can lead to death following rupture of the aorta. 

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