L-DOPA Autoxidation: An Empirical Valence Bond Simulation of the Reactive Step.

ABSTRACT: L-DOPA, or levodopa, plays an important role in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, a debilitating neurological disorder. It acts as a precursor to dopamine, a neurotransmitter crucial for the regulation of motor functions. Administered orally, L-DOPA easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and converts into dopamine in the brain, relieving symptoms such as tremors and rigidity. However, its prolonged use can lead to complications. A significant concern with L-DOPA is its conversion to dopaquinone, a quinone metabolite that enters the redox cycle and continuously produces hydrogen peroxide. In addition, L-DOPA, which resembles tyrosine with an additional hydroxyl group, can randomly incorporate into the proteins of dopaminergic neurons and thus become an additional source of oxidative str

SUBMITTER: Prah A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11382278 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature