What is the degradation product of dopamine?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a critical role in several brain functions and is involved in the regulation of mood, movement, and reward. The metabolism of dopamine occurs primarily in the brain and involves enzymatic conversion to various metabolites.

One significant degradation pathway of dopamine is through its conversion to homovanillic acid (HVA). This transformation happens via two main steps:

1. Dopamine is first converted into dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) by the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT).

2. Subsequently, DOPAC can be further processed to form HVA.

HVA is a major end product of dopamine metabolism and can be measured in urine to assess dopamine levels and activity in various clinical conditions, particularly in neuroendocrine tumors and certain types of neurological disorders.

This metabolic pathway highlights HVA's role as a key degradation product, making it a valuable marker in clinical practice.