Dopa decarboxylase activity of the living human brain.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Monoaminergic neurons use dopa decarboxylase (DDC; aromatic-L-amino-acid carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.28) to form dopamine from L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa). We measured regional dopa decarboxylase activity in brains of six healthy volunteers with 6-[18F]fluoro-L-dopa and positron emission tomography. We calculated the enzyme activity, relative to its Km, with a kinetic model that yielded the relative rate of conversion of 6-[18F]fluoro-L-dopa to [18F]fluorodopamine. Regional values of relative dopa decarboxylase activity ranged from nil in occipital cortex to 1.9 h-1 in caudate nucleus and putamen, in agreement with values obtained in vitro.
Original languageEnglish
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America
Volume88
Issue number7
Pages (from-to)2721-5
Number of pages4
ISSN0027-8424
Publication statusPublished - 1991
Externally publishedYes

ID: 14945452