Synthesis and metabolism

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. 

Pantothenic acid Functional part of CoA and acyl carrier protein fatty acid synthesis and metabolism ... 

Figure 6.1 Synthesis and metabolism of acetylcholine. Choline is acetylated by reacting with acetyl-CoA in the presence of choline acetyltransferase to form acetylcholine (1). The acetylcholine binds to the anionic site of cholinesterase and reacts with the hydroxy group of serine on the esteratic site of the enzyme (2). The cholinesterase thus becomes acetylated and choline splits off to be taken back into the nerve terminal for further ACh synthesis (3). The acetylated enzyme is then rapidly hydrolised back to its active state with the formation of acetic acid (4)...

The biochemical pathways in the synthesis and metabolism of dopamine are shown in Fig. 7.2 and their position in the context of the dopamine synapse in Fig. 7.3. 

Figure 7.2 Biochemical pathways for the synthesis and metabolism of dopamine. (—) indicates drug inhibition of enzyme activity...

The synthesis and metabolism of DA are very similar to that of NA, even when it functions as a NT in its own right. Although both phenylalanine and tyrosine are found in the brain it is tyrosine which is the starting point for NA and DA synthesis. It appears to be transported into the brain after synthesis from phenylalanine (phenylalanine hydroxylase) in the liver rather than from phenylalanine found in the brain. Despite the fact that the concentration of tyrosine in the brain is high (5 X 10 M) very little body tyrosine (1%) is used for the synthesis of DA and NA. 

Figure 9.4 The synthesis and metabolism of 5-HT. The primary substrate for the pathway is the essential amino acid, tryptophan and its hydroxylation to 5-hydrox5dryptophan is the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of 5-HT. The cytoplasmic enzyme, monoamine oxidase (MAOa), is ultimately responsible for the catabolism of 5-HT to 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid...

Bakhit, C. Morgan, M.E. Peat, M.A. and Gibb. J.W. Long-term effects of methamphetamine on the synthesis and metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine in various regions of the rat brain. Neuropharmacology 20 1135-1140, 1981. 

Regulation of body temperature Synthesis and metabolism Disposal of biochemical wastes (through secretions)... 

Relations between Acetylcholine Synthesis and Metabolism of Carbo-... 

Figure 6.1 Histamine synthesis and metabolism in neurons. L-histidine is transported into neurons by the L-amino acid transporter. Once inside the neuron, L-histidine is converted into histamine by the specific enzyme histidine decarboxylase. Subsequently, histamine is taken up into vesicles by the vesicular monoamine transporter and stored there until released. In the absence of a high-affinity uptake mechanism in the brain, released histamine is rapidly degraded by histamine methyltransferase, which is located postsynaptically and in glia, to telemethylhistamine, a metabolite that does not show any histamine-like activity.

Plant metabolism can be separated into primary pathways that are found in all cells and deal with manipulating a uniform group of basic compounds, and secondary pathways that occur in specialized cells and produce a wide variety of unique compounds. The primary pathways deal with the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids and act through the many-step reactions of glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, the pentose phosphate shunt, and lipid, protein, and nucleic acid biosynthesis. In contrast, the secondary metabolites (e.g., terpenes, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, lignin, flavonoids, coumarins, and related compounds) are produced by the shikimic, malonic, and mevalonic acid pathways, and the methylerythritol phosphate pathway (Fig. 3.1). This chapter concentrates on the synthesis and metabolism of phenolic compounds and on how the activities of these pathways and the compounds produced affect product quality. 

This chapter has focused on the synthesis and metabolism of phenolic compounds that constitute the most important induced secondary products affecting product quality. 

Specific enzymes control histamine synthesis and breakdown. Figure 14-3 summarizes the major mechanisms for the synthesis and metabolism of histamine. 

FIGURE 14-3 Synthesis and metabolism of histamine. Solid lines indicate the pathways for histamine formation and catabolism in brain. Dashed lines show additional pathways that can occur outside the nervous system. HDC, histidine decarboxylase HMT, histamine methyltransferase DAO, diamine oxidase MAO, monoamine oxidase. Aldehyde intermediates, shown in brackets, have been hypothesized but not isolated. 

Although tremendous progress has been made in characterizing the enzymes that control the synthesis and metabolism of cyclic nucleotides in the nervous system, our understanding of the regulation and interaction of these systems is far from complete. Work is now needed to definitively characterize, for each of these enzyme sub-types, its unique distribution pattern in the brain as well as its distinct functional and regulatory properties. 

FIGURE 46-3 Synthesis and metabolism of dopamine. MAO, monoamine oxidase COMT, catechol-O-methyltransferase HVA, homovanillic acid DOPAC, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. 

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