All diagrams in supply, synthesis and cofactors

TH reaction and regulation

Tyrosine hydroxylase chemistry: the reaction and its controls are separate. This is a cytosolic reaction; the arrow is not a direct route to a symptom.

TH reaction and regulation

Scoped educational mechanism

TH reaction and regulation. Tyrosine hydroxylase chemistry: the reaction and its controls are separate.
Tyrosine hydroxylase chemistry: the reaction and its controls are separate. This is a cytosolic reaction; the arrow is not a direct route to a symptom.MJB ADHD · original vector reconstruction · Reviewed 2026-10-13

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Tyrosine hydroxylase catalyses the rate-limiting hydroxylation step in catecholamine biosynthesis. It uses BH4, iron and oxygen to form L-DOPA in the cytosol. Enzyme activity is regulated, so substrate abundance alone does not determine downstream transmitter availability. Further synthesis, vesicular storage, release and clearance remain necessary. The figure omits full chemical stoichiometry and does not assert a TH defect or predict a therapeutic response.

  • L-tyrosine → TH reaction: substrate
  • TH reaction → L-DOPA: product
  • BH4 and oxygen → TH reaction: co-substrates
  • Iron cofactor → TH reaction: cofactor

What the diagram shows

Tyrosine hydroxylase catalyses the rate-limiting hydroxylation step in catecholamine biosynthesis. It uses BH4, iron and oxygen to form L-DOPA in the cytosol. Enzyme activity is regulated, so substrate abundance alone does not determine downstream transmitter availability. Further synthesis, vesicular storage, release and clearance remain necessary. The figure omits full chemical stoichiometry and does not assert a TH defect or predict a therapeutic response.

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