Dopamine Biochemistry

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDReviewed by April Cashin-Garbutt, MA (Editor)

Dopamine as a cathecholamine

Dopamine’s chemical formula is C₆H₃(OH)₂-CH₂-CH₂-NH₂ and its chemical name is "4-(2-aminoethyl)benzene-1,2-diol" and its abbreviation is "DA."

Biosynthesis of dopamine

Dopamine is a cathecholamine. This means it has a Cathechol nucleus and is a precursor to norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and then epinephrine (adrenaline) in the biosynthetic pathways for these neurotransmitters.

Dopamine is a derivative of the amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine is modified by tyrosine hydroxylase to form DOPA. This is a very important step in the formation of Dopamine and is called the rate limiting step.

DOPA decarboxylase then removes carbon dioxide from DOPA to for dopamine (C₈H₁₁NO₂). Dopamine then serves as a precursor to norepinephrine and epinephrine.  

Once the cathecholamines like Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Epinephrine are formed they are packaged in granulated vesicles to be transmitted across the synapse in response to a stimuli.

Dopamine production

Dopamine is mainly synthesized in areas of the central and peripheral nervous systems. It is synthesized in the hypothalamus, the arcuate nucleus, and the caudate nucleus of the brain. Chromaffin cells produce dopamine within the dopaminergic regions of the brain. It is mainly the nervous tissue and the medulla of the adrenal glands that synthesize Dopamine.

Termination of action of dopamine

The action of dopamine is terminated by two methods:

• reuptake or taking up of dopamine by the dopamine transporter into the pre-synaptic membrane.
• enzymatic breakdown of dopamine by catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase (MAO)
• dopamine that is not broken down by enzymes is repackaged into vesicles for reuse.

Dopamine and cocaine

Cocaine is one of the drugs of abuse that increases the presence of dopamine in the cleft between the synaptic ends of the nerves. This increases the intensity of action of dopamine in the effective nerves.

Further Reading

• All Dopamine Content
• What is Dopamine?
• Dopamine Therapeutic Use
• Dopamine Functions
• Dopamine and Psychosis