Alkaloids derived from tyrosine and L-DOPA - Polyamines, nonprotein amino acids and alkaloids - HORT640 - Metabolic Plant Physiology - Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture

Tyrosine/dopa decarboxylase (TYDC) [EC 4.1.1.25] catalyzes the formation of tyramine and dopamine and represents the first steps in the biosynthesis of the large number of tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids (Facchini and De Luca, 1995; Facchini, 2001).

Several tyrosine and DOPA decarboxylases genes have been identified in opium poppy (Maldonado-Mendoza et al, 1996).

References

Facchini PJ 2001 Alkaloid biosynthesis in plants: biochemistry, cell biology, molecular regulation, and metabolic engineering applications. Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 52: 29-66.

Facchini PJ, De Luca V 1995 Phloem-specific expression of tyrosine/dopa decarboxylase genes and the biosynthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids in opium poppy. Plant Cell 7: 1811-1821.

Maldonado-Mendoza IE, Lopez-Meyer M, Galef JR, Burnett RJ, Nessler CL 1996 Molecular analysis of a new member of the opium tyrosine/3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine decarboxylase gene family. Plant Physiol. 110: 43-49.


David Rhodes Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture Horticulture Building 625 Agriculture Mall Drive Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 47907-2010 Last Update: 03/31/08