The DECARBOXYLATION OF Β‐3: 4‐DIHYDROXYPHENYLSERINE (NORADRENALINE CARBOXYLIC ACID)

Synthesis and resolution of 2:5-dihydroxyphenylalanine

“…Experiments with the active amino-acids will be carried out, when an opportunity arises. The findings of Blaschko et al (1948) that the L-ammo-acid can be decarboxylated by a mammalian enzyme have already been mentioned. The resulting 2:5-dihydroxyphenylethylamine is also readily metabolized by man and by the rat (Leaf & Neuberger, 1948).…”

Droxidopa in neurogenic orthostatic hypotension

“…In the late 1940’s, Blaschko and colleagues in England showed that droxidopa could be converted to norepinephrine when incubated with Streptococcus faecalis [41]. Blaschko went on to show that the synthesis of norepinephrine required a single decarboxylation step and was dependent on the enzyme aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (AAAD) [42,43].…”

Droxidopa for symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension: what can we learn?

“…In the late 1940s, Blaschko and colleagues in England showed that droxidopa could be converted to norepinephrine, in vivo, and that this step required the action of the enzyme DOPA decarboxylase, a.k.a. aromatic amino acid decarboxylase [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]. In 1989 it was reported that in patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy and symptomatic nOH treatment with 600 mg of droxidopa increased plasma norepinephrine levels and standing blood pressure [ 10 ].…”