The dope on L-dopa metabolism
The efficacy of L-dopa treatment for Parkinson’s disease is hugely variable between individuals, depending on the composition of their microbiota. L-Dopa is decarboxylated into active dopamine, but if the gut microbiota metabolize L-dopa before it crosses the blood-brain barrier, medication is ineffective. Maini Rekdal et al. found that different species of bacterium are involved in L-dopa metabolism (see the Perspective by O’Neill). Tyrosine decarboxylase (TDC) from Enterococcus faecalis and dopamine dehydroxylase (Dadh) from Eggerthella lentaA2 sequentially metabolized L-dopa into m-tyramine. The microbial L-dopa decarboxylase can be inactivated by (S)-α-fluoromethyltyrosine (AFMT), which indicates possibilities for developing combinations of Parkinson’s drugs to circumvent microbial inactivation.
Vincent van Gogh [Public domain]
Vayu Maini Rekdal, Elizabeth N. Bess, Jordan E. Bisanz, Peter J. Turnbaugh*, Emily P. Balskus*
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