-Dopaquinone also known as ''o''-dopaquinone is a metabolite of
L-DOPA
-DOPA, also known as -3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and used medically as levodopa, is made and used as part of the normal biology of some plants and animals, including humans. Humans, as well as a portion of the other animals that utilize -DO ...
(L-dihydroxyphenylalanine) and a precursor of
melanin.
Biosynthesis
Biosynthesis, i.e., chemical synthesis occurring in biological contexts, is a term most often referring to multi-step, enzyme-Catalysis, catalyzed processes where chemical substances absorbed as nutrients (or previously converted through biosynthe ...
of melanin occurs in
melanocytes
Melanocytes are melanin-producing neural crest-derived cells located in the bottom layer (the stratum basale) of the skin's epidermis, the middle layer of the eye (the uvea),
the inner ear,
vaginal epithelium, meninges,
bones,
and hea ...
, where
tyrosine is converted into DOPA and then dopaquinone, which goes on to be formed into pheomelanin or eumelanin.
References
External links
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Catecholamines
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