Figure 5
CA oxidation products. Catecholic compounds can be enzymatically or non-enzymatically oxidized to their corresponding quinones. These highly reactive compounds can undergo a multitude of different reactions, only a few are depicted here. Intramolecular cyclization and further oxidation of DOPA- and dopaminequinone lead to the precursors of neuromelanin. DA-quinone can react with hydrogen peroxide to 6-hydroxydopaminequinone, or with aldehydes to tetrahydroisoquinoline like salsolinol, both neurotoxic compounds. Cysteinylresidues of proteins or peptides readily react with DA-quinone to form 5-cysteinyl-DA-derivatives.