DL-Dopa

A DL-DOPA drop test for the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans

A simple melanin assay using DL.DOPA as the substrate was developed to aid in the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans. The DL-DOPA drop test was simple and efficient. The best results (100% of the C. neoformans isolates were positive) occurred when C. neoformans was grown for two days at room temperature on Sabouraud agar modified. One to three loopfuls of yeast cells were then transferred to a starvation medium for 18-24 hours. Two of three drops of 0.3% DL-DOPA solution was applied to the transferred yeast cells. Only C. neoformans produced a brown or blackgrey pigment within 24 hrs, with 85% of the isolates becoming brown or black-grey within thirty minutes.

L-DOPA systems for blood pressure regulation in the lower brainstem

We have explored probable neurotransmitter roles of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) in baroreceptor reflex and blood pressure regulation in depressor sites of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and the caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM), and in pressor sites of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) in anesthetized rats. During microdialysis of these three areas, the basal L-DOPA release is in part tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive and Ca2(+)-dependent, high K+ Ca2(+)-dependently releases dL-DOPA. L-DOPA microinjected (10-300 ng) dose-dependently produces postsynaptic depressor responses in the NTS and CVLM and pressor responses in the RVLM, and a recognition site for L-DOPA functions tonically to activate depressor neurons in the NTS and CVLM and pressor neurons in the RVLM. It is highly probable that L-DOPA is a neurotransmitter of the baroreceptor afferents terminating in the NTS, which is based on further findings such as (1) antagonism by a competitive L-DOPA antagonist against depressor responses to aortic nerve stimulation, (2) TTX-sensitive L-DOPA release by aortic nerve stimulation, (3) abolition of baroreceptor-stimulated L-DOPA release by bilateral sino-aortic denervation and (4) decreases in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)- and L-DOPA-immunoreactivities without modifications of dopamine- and DBH-immunoreactivities in the left NTS and ganglion nodosum 7 days after ipsilateral aortic nerve denervation peripheral to the ganglion. In the NTS, GABA tonically functions to inhibit via GABAA receptors L-DOPA release and depressor responses to L-DOPA, whereas L-DOPA induces GABA release. Impaired TTX-sensitive neuronal activity to release L-DOPA in the NTS and enhanced TTX-sensitive neuronal activity including a decrease in decarboxylation of L-DOPA to dopamine and an increase in sensitivity of the recognition site to L-DOPA in the RVLM are relevant to the maintenance of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Decreases in the contents of L-DOPA in the right CVLM 10 days after electrical lesion of the ipsilateral NTS suggest a 'L-DOPAergic' and monosynaptic relay from the NTS to the CVLM. L-DOPA seems to play major roles as a neurotransmitter for baroreceptor reflex and blood pressure regulation in the lower brainstem of rats.

Separation of DL-dopa by means of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography after derivatization with Marfey's reagent

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography was used to separate levodopa (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine), dextrodopa (D-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine) and DL-3-O-methyl-dopa, a metabolite of dopa, which were derivatised with the Marfey's reagent, in sodium borate, sodium dodecyl sulfate and acetonitile buffer system. Whereas DL-dopa derivatives could be separated, DL-3-O-methyl-dopa derivatives could not.

Syntheses of dopa glycosides using glucosidases

Syntheses of L: -dopa 1a glucoside 10a,b and DL: -dopa 1b glycosides 10-18 with D: -glucose 2, D: -galactose 3, D: -mannose 4, D: -fructose 5, D: -arabinose 6, lactose 7, D: -sorbitol 8 and D: -mannitol 9 were carried out using amyloglucosidase from Rhizopus mold, beta-glucosidase isolated from sweet almond and immobilized beta-glucosidase. Invariably, L: -dopa and DL: -dopa gave low to good yields of glycosides 10-18 at 12-49% range and only mono glycosylated products were detected through glycosylation/arylation at the third or fourth OH positions of L: -dopa 1a and DL: -dopa 1b. Amyloglucosidase showed selectivity with D: -mannose 4 to give 4-O-C1beta and D: -sorbitol 8 to give 4-O-C6-O-arylated product. beta-Glucosidase exhibited selectivity with D: -mannose 4 to give 4-O-C1beta and lactose 7 to give 4-O-C1beta product. Immobilized beta-glucosidase did not show any selectivity. Antioxidant and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition (ACE) activities of the glycosides were evaluated glycosides, out of which L: -3-hydroxy-4-O-(beta-D: -galactopyranosyl-(1'-->4)beta-D: -glucopyranosyl) phenylalanine 16 at 0.9 +/- 0.05 mM and DL: -3-hydroxy-4-O-(beta-D: -glucopyranosyl) phenylalanine 11b,c at 0.98 +/- 0.05 mM showed the best IC(50) values for antioxidant activity and DL: -3-hydroxy-4-O-(6-D: -sorbitol)phenylalanine 17 at 0.56 +/- 0.03 mM, L: -dopa-D: -glucoside 10a,b at 1.1 +/- 0.06 mM and DL: -3-hydroxy-4-O-(D: -glucopyranosyl)phenylalanine 11a-d at 1.2 +/- 0.06 mM exhibited the best IC(50) values for ACE inhibition.

Effect of different isomers of dihydroxybenzoic acids (DBA) on the rate of DL-dopa oxidation by mushroom tyrosinase

Dihydroxybenzoic acids (DBA), such as 3,4-DBA, 3,5-DBA, and 2,4-DBA--at all concentrations tested--inhibited the rate of DL-DOPA oxidation to dopachrome (lambda max = 475 nm) by mushroom tyro0sinase. 2,3-DBA and 2,5-DBA at relatively low concentration had a synergistic effect on the reaction, whereas at relatively high concentrations they inhibited the rate of DL-DOPA oxidation. The synergistic effect of 0.6-13.3 mM 2,3-DBA on the rate of DL-DOPA oxidation to dopachrome (lambda max = 475 nm) was found to be due to the ability of 2,3-DBA-o-quinone (formed by the oxidation of 2,3-DBA by mushroom tyrosinase or by sodium periodate) to oxidize DL-DOPA to dopachrome (via dopaquinone) non-enzymatically. A similar explanation is likely to be valid for the synergism exerted by 2,5-DBA on the rate of DL-DOPA oxidation by mushroom tyrosinase.