Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Metabolic Pathway Confirmation and Discovery Through 13C-labeling of Proteinogenic Amino Acids
Published on: January 26, 2012
A new metabolic pathway for N,N-dimethyltryptamine
Abstract:
N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) undergoes a major structural alteration when added to whole human blood or its red blood cells in vitro. A new high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) peak is present in extracts of these treated tissues. The compound responsible for this peak has been identified by ultraviolet spectrophotometry and by mass spectrometry as dimethylkynuramine (DMK). The enzyme responsible for this appears to be different from tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase and also from indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.
Related Concept Videos
Preparation of 1° Amines: Hofmann and Curtius Rearrangement Overview
Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways

![Radiosynthesis of 1-(2-[18F]Fluoroethyl)-L-Tryptophan using a One-pot, Two-step Protocol](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F63025.jpg&w=3840&q=50)