DOPA Decarboxylase
DOPA Decarboxylase (DDC), also known as aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase or AADC, is an enzyme that converts L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) to dopamine and L-5-hydroxytryptophan to serotonin. It is a member of the group II decarboxylase family. Browse Assay Genie's current range of DOPA Decarboxylase research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
DOPA Decarboxylase catalyses decarboxylation reactions in the synthesis of monoamine neurotransmitters. It converts L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) to dopamine and L-5-hydroxytryptophan to serotonin. According to the NCBI Gene summary, it also converts L-tryptophan to tryptamine. Because one enzyme acts on substrates in both the catecholamine and serotonin routes, it sits at a shared step between these two neurotransmitter pathways.
The DDC gene encodes a protein of the group II decarboxylase family, and HGNC places it in the decarboxylases gene group. The enzyme is classified as EC 4.1.1.28 and is listed in UniProt as aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase, which is the origin of the widely used alias AADC. Researchers working with the DOPA Decarboxylase protein will often see both names in the literature. Mouse and rat each have an orthologous gene, Ddc, which allows the enzyme to be studied in common rodent models. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified for the DDC gene.
Defects in DDC cause aromatic L-amino-acid decarboxylase deficiency (AADCD). This is an inborn error of neurotransmitter metabolism that leads to combined serotonin and catecholamine deficiency. The link between a single enzyme and the loss of both neurotransmitter classes makes DOPA Decarboxylase a useful focus for work on neurotransmitter biosynthesis and its disorders. An experiment that uses a DOPA Decarboxylase antibody or a DOPA Decarboxylase ELISA kit should be designed around the specific isoform and context under study.
DOPA Decarboxylase catalyses the decarboxylation of DOPA to dopamine, making it a central enzyme for studying catecholamine production.
The enzyme converts L-5-hydroxytryptophan to serotonin, so it is relevant to research on serotonergic neurotransmitter metabolism.
Defects in DDC cause AADC deficiency, an inborn error of neurotransmitter metabolism with combined serotonin and catecholamine deficiency.
DOPA Decarboxylase also decarboxylates L-tryptophan to tryptamine, linking it to aromatic amino acid metabolism.
DOPA Decarboxylase catalyses the decarboxylation of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) to dopamine and L-5-hydroxytryptophan to serotonin. NCBI Gene also reports that it converts L-tryptophan to tryptamine. It therefore acts in both catecholamine and serotonin synthesis.
Yes. AADC is an alias for DOPA Decarboxylase, and UniProt lists the protein as aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase. The gene symbol is DDC. Several alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified for this gene.
Defects in DDC cause aromatic L-amino-acid decarboxylase deficiency, an inborn error of neurotransmitter metabolism with combined serotonin and catecholamine deficiency. Mouse and rat both have an ortholog named Ddc; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other neurotransmitter-synthesis enzymes and catecholamine and serotonin pathway targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P20711; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.