Catecholamines: synthesis.
A catecholamine is a monoaniline neurotransmitter, an organic compound that has a catechol and a side-chain amine. Catecholamines are a combined form of the, 1. Dopamine 2. Nor-epinephrine 3. Epinephrine The Adrenal medulla of the adrenal gland contains chromaffin cells which produce and secrete, upon stimulation, catecholamines; epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. The amount of dopamine secreted by the medulla is relatively small in comparison to the total body dopamine. It is used, however, as a precursor for the production of norepinephrine and eventually epinephrine. Synthesis: Amino acid tyrosine is the major source for the production of the catecholamines. The tyrosine is not an essential amino acid, it can be prepared from the amino acid phenylalanine. Phenylalanine converts to tyrosine by the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase . (phenylalanine...