Tyrosine hydroxylase
Tyrosine Hydroxylase
Tyrosine hydroxylase (pronounced: tie-row-seen hi-drox-i-lase) is an enzyme that is involved in the conversion of the amino acid tyrosine to DOPA, a precursor of dopamine. It is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of catecholamines, which include dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.
Etymology
The term "tyrosine hydroxylase" is derived from the name of the amino acid tyrosine, which in turn is named after the Greek word "tyros", meaning cheese, as it was first discovered in cheese. The term "hydroxylase" refers to the type of reaction the enzyme catalyzes, specifically the addition of a hydroxyl group (-OH) to a substrate.
Function
Tyrosine hydroxylase is found in the nervous system, adrenal medulla, and other tissues that produce catecholamines. It is the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of catecholamines, meaning it is the first step in the pathway and its activity largely determines the rate of catecholamine production.
Related Terms
- Enzyme: A protein that catalyzes a specific biochemical reaction.
- Amino acid: The building blocks of proteins. There are 20 different types of amino acids that can be combined to make a protein.
- Dopamine: A type of neurotransmitter, which is a chemical messenger that transmits signals in the brain and other areas of the body.
- Catecholamines: A group of hormones that include dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.
- Adrenal medulla: The inner part of the adrenal gland that produces catecholamines.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tyrosine hydroxylase
- Wikipedia's article - Tyrosine hydroxylase
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski