3-Iodotyrosine is an intermediate in the synthesis of thyroid hormones which is derived from

iodination In chemistry, halogenation is a chemical reaction that entails the introduction of one or more halogens into a compound. Halide-containing compounds are pervasive, making this type of transformation important, e.g. in the production of polymers, ...

of tyrosine at the meta-position of the benzene ring. One unit can combine with diiodotyrosine to form triiodothyronine, as occurs in the

colloid A colloid is a mixture in which one substance consisting of microscopically dispersed insoluble particles is suspended throughout another substance. Some definitions specify that the particles must be dispersed in a liquid, while others extend ...

of the

thyroid follicle Thyroid follicular cells (also called thyroid epithelial cells or thyrocytes) are the major cell type in the thyroid gland, and are responsible for the production and secretion of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). They ...

. Two units can combine to form

3,3'-diiodothyronine 3,3'-Diiodothyronine, also known as 3,3'-T2, is a metabolite of thyroid hormone. It is formed from the breakdown of triiodothyronine Triiodothyronine, also known as T3, is a thyroid hormone. It affects almost every physiological process in the ...

. 3-Iodotyrosine is a reversible

inhibitor Inhibitor or inhibition may refer to: In biology * Enzyme inhibitor, a substance that binds to an enzyme and decreases the enzyme's activity * Reuptake inhibitor, a substance that increases neurotransmission by blocking the reuptake of a neurotra ...

of the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase.

Relevance in dopamine studies

3-Iodotyrosine, a pathway inhibitor in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter

dopamine Dopamine (DA, a contraction of 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is a neuromodulatory molecule that plays several important roles in cells. It is an organic compound, organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families. Dopamine const ...

, was used to determine the effects of decreased dopamine levels in social spacing of '' Drosophila melanogaster''. 3-4 day old flies that were fed 3-iodotyrosine for 24 hours were shown to have altered dopamine levels.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iodotyrosine, 3- Iodinated tyrosine derivatives Tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitors