A novel dopamine-derived conjugate as a unique detoxification pathway and indicator of catecholaminergic stress

Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that is important for the function of normal movement. The disruption of its normal metabolism is linked to Parkinson’s disease, a disorder characterized by muscle rigidity, stiffness, and tremors. Parkinson’s disease is not diagnosed until after mass neuronal cell death in the brain, making earlier diagnostic techniques imperative. Disruption of dopamine pathways likely begins decades prior to noticeable cell death. This dissertation work probes this pathway and describes the discovery and examination of a novel, dopamine-derived biomarker that may be a unique way the brain detoxifies a toxic metabolite of dopamine. Additionally, this work describes similar biomarkers formed from norepinephrine and serotonin, two other important brain chemicals that cause cell toxicity issues when imbalanced. All three of these biomarkers can be identified via analytical chemistry techniques, which means they may be useful diagnostic tools to help diagnose disease earlier. Additionally, the presence of a newly identified mechanism that cells naturally use as a detoxification pathway may have implications for new drugs and better treatment.