Decarboxylation of DL-2,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (2,4-DOPA) to 2,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine in mouse striatal slices

Abstract

Decarboxylation of an unnatural analogue of DOPA by brain aromatic amino acid decarboxylase was measured by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Incubation of striatal slices with DL-2,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (2,4-DOPA) resulted in biosynthesis and accumulation of 2,4-dihydroxyphenylethylamine, which was completely blocked by carbidopa. 2,4-DOPA induced a significant decrease in endogenous dopamine, but the loss was not prevented by carbidopa. Since 2,4-DOPA is a potential pro-drug for melanoma chemotherapy, further evaluation of its neurobiologic properties is needed.