5061 L-Dopachrome Dopachrome is a cyclization product of L-DOPA and is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of melanin. Dopaquinone has an ortho-quinone ring, which is known to be neurotoxic and highly reactive with many other compounds (PMID: 413870). Dopachrome spontaneously gives rise to 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) or it can be enzymatically metabolized by dopachrome tautomerase to give 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA). DHI and its oxidation products are also toxic to cells. Many Parkinson's patients are treated with L-DOPA. However, long-term treatment with L-DOPA may actually worsen symptoms or may result in neurotic and psychotic symptoms. These may be due to dopachrome and dopaquinone accumulating in the brain of L-DOPA treated patients (PMID: 19131041, PMID: 12373519). 89762-39-0 C9H7NO4 2018-03-21T18:00:09Z 2018-03-21T18:07:51Z true OC(=O)[C@@H]1CC2=CC(=O)C(=O)C=C2N1 C9H7NO4 InChI=1S/C9H7NO4/c11-7-2-4-1-6(9(13)14)10-5(4)3-8(7)12/h2-3,6,10H,1H2,(H,13,14)/t6-/m0/s1 VJNCICVKUHKIIV-LURJTMIESA-N 193.158 193.037507709 HMDB0001430