Reaction: L-dopa + O2 + H2O = 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde + CO2 + NH3 + H2O2
For diagram of reaction click here
Glossary: L-dopa = 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine
Other name(s): DHPAA synthase
Systematic name: L-dopa carboxy-lyase (oxidative-deaminating)
Comments: A pyridoxal 5'-phosphate protein. The enzyme, isolated from the mosquito Aedes aegypti, catalyses the production of 3,4-dihydroxylphenylacetaldehyde directly from L-dopa. Dopamine is not formed as an intermediate (cf. EC 4.1.1.28, aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase). The enzyme is specific for L-dopa and does not react with other aromatic amino acids with the exception of a low activity with α-methyl-L-dopa.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, MetaCyc, PDB, CAS registry number:
References:
1. Vavricka, C., Han, Q., Huang, Y., Erickson, S.M., Harich, K., Christensen, B.M. and Li, J. From L-dopa to dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde: a toxic biochemical pathway plays a vital physiological function in insects. PLoS One 6 (2011) e16124. [PMID: 21283636]