Search Thermo Fisher Scientific
Search Thermo Fisher Scientific
General Description
• 3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine, or L-dopa, is converted to dopamine by DOPA decarboxylase in the body
• Upon conversion to dopamine, it acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter
Applications
• L-dopa is useful in the laboratory study of Parkinson’s to replenish dopamine in depleted circuits
• L-dopa has also been used for laboratory research on hypertension and melanocyte activity
Literature References
Maini Rekdal, V.; Bess, E.N.; Bisanz, J.E.; Turnbaugh, P.J.; Balskus EP. Discovery and inhibition of an interspecies gut bacterial pathway for Levodopa metabolism. Science. 2019, 364(6445), eaau6323.
Hong, C.T.; Chan, L.; Bai, C.H. The Effect of Caffeine on the Risk and Progression of Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-Analysis. Nutrients. 2020, 12(6), 1860.