Dopac

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Dopac
IUPAC name 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid
Identifiers
CAS number [102-32-9]
PubChem 547
MeSH 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic+Acid
SMILES C1=CC(=C(C=C1CC(=O)O)O)O
Properties
Molecular formula C8H8O4
Molar mass 168.14672
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Infobox disclaimer and references

DOPAC (dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) is a metabolite of dopamine.[1]

[edit] Pathway

The dopaminergic pathway consists of the following:

             ----> via MAO -> '''DOPAC''' -> via COMT
           /                                    \
'''Dopamine (DA)''' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ---> '''homovanillic acid (HVA)'''
           \                                    /
             ----> via COMT -> '''3-MT''' -> via MAO

[edit] Clinical significance

One of the three direct products from the alteration of dopamine (DOPAC, 3-MT (3-methoxytyramine) and noradrenaline) DOPAC is an important metabolite when studying the behaviour of the dopaminergic system for multiple reasons; 3-MT is generally more difficult to assay alongside dopamine and by assessing all three metabolites (DOPAC, HVA and 3-MT) abnormalities in either COMT (catechol-O-methyl transferase) or MAO (monoamine oxidase) can be indirectly identified. This has large ramifications as COMT abnormalities are suspected in various neuropsychiatric diseases including schizophrenia.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Sistrunk SC, Ross MK, Filipov NM (May 2007). "Direct effects of manganese compounds on dopamine and its metabolite Dopac: an in vitro study". Environ. Toxicol. Pharmacol. 23 (3): 286–296. doi:10.1016/j.etap.2006.11.004. PMID 18449324.