Reactions
It catalyzes several different decarboxylation reactions:
- L-DOPA to dopamine - a neurotransmitter
- 5-HTP to serotonin (5-HT) - also a neurotransmitter
- tryptophan to tryptamine - a precursor to many alkaloids found in plants and animals
The enzyme uses pyridoxal phosphate, the active form of vitamin B6, as a cofactor.
Read more about this topic: Aromatic L-amino Acid Decarboxylase
Famous quotes containing the word reactions:
“Separation anxiety is normal part of development, but individual reactions are partly explained by experience, that is, by how frequently children have been left in the care of others.... A mother who is never apart from her young child may be saying to him or her subliminally: “You are only safe when I’m with you.””
—Cathy Rindner Tempelsman (20th century)
“Prolonged, indiscriminate reviewing of books is a quite exceptionally thankless, irritating and exhausting job. It not only involves praising trash but constantly inventing reactions towards books about which one has no spontaneous feeling whatever.”
—George Orwell (1903–1950)
“Cuteness in children is totally an adult perspective. The children themselves are unaware that the quality exists, let alone its desirability, until the reactions of grownups inform them.”
—Leontine Young (20th century)