Release of Membrane-Associated L-Dopa Decarboxylase from Human Cells

Author: Chalatsa Ioanna   Fragoulis Emmanuel   Vassilacopoulou Dido  

Publisher: Springer Publishing Company

ISSN: 0364-3190

Source: Neurochemical Research, Vol.36, Iss.8, 2011-08, pp. : 1426-1434

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Abstract

L-Dopa Decarboxylase is a pyridoxal 5-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme that catalyses the decarboxylation of L-Dopa to dopamine. In this study, we investigated the cellular topology of the active human enzyme. Fractionation of membranes from human cell lines, of neural and non-neural origin, by temperature-induced phase separation in Triton X-114 resulted in the detection of DDC molecules in all separation phases. Solubilization of membrane-associated DDC was observed in a pH and time-dependent manner and was affected by divalent cations and protease inhibitors, suggesting the involvement of a possible release mechanism. The study of the biological properties and function of the solubilization phenomenon described here, as well as, the study of the membrane-associated enzyme could provide us with new information about the participation of the human L-Dopa decarboxylase in physiological and aberrant processes.

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