Dihydrobiopterin reductase
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Dihydrobiopterin is a compound produced in the synthesis of dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine through production of the intermediate 3,4-dihydroxy phenylalanine, also known as dopa. Phenylalanine is converted into dopa using tetrahydrobiopterin releasing dihydrobiopterin and water, which is then converted back into tetrahydrobiopterin using the NADPH-dependent enzyme dihydrobiopterin reductase. This enzyme is sometimes defective in patients with phenylketonuria, and is treated in the same fashion, with tyrosine supplements and a controlled diet which is lacking in phenylalanine.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Pawlina, Wojciech; Ross, Michael W. (2006). Histology: a text and atlas: with correlated cell and molecular biology. Philadelphia: Lippincott Wiliams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-5056-3.
