Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase

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dopa decarboxylase (aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase)
Identifiers
Symbol DDC
HUGO 2719
Entrez 1644
OMIM 107930
RefSeq NM_000790
UniProt P20711
Other data
EC number 4.1.1.28
Locus Chr. 7 p11

Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.28, synonyms: DOPA decarboxylase, tryptophan decarboxylase, 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase, AAAD) is an enzyme catalyzing the decarboxylation of L-DOPA or 5-HTP to yield the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin (5-HT), respectively. The enzyme uses pyridoxal phosphate as a cofactor. In normal dopamine and 5-HT neurotransmitter synthesis, AAAD is not the rate-limiting step of in either reaction. However, AAAD becomes the rate-limiting step of dopamine formation in Parkinson's Disease patients treated with L-DOPA.

AAAD is the rate-limiting enzyme in the formation of biogenic trace amines.

The same enzyme is also able to decarboxylate the amino acid tryptophan to tryptamine, a precursor to many alkaloids found in plants and animals.

Formation of serotonin from 5-hydroxytryptophan by aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase
Formation of serotonin from 5-hydroxytryptophan by aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase


[edit] See also