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Updated: Jul 30, 2026

Metabolomic Analysis of Rat Brain by High Resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Tissue Extracts
Published on: September 21, 2014
Resistance of aryl-substituted phenylalanines to decarboxylation in the rat
B L Goodwin1, C R Ruthven, M Sandler
1Department of Chemical Pathology, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
1. The in vivo decarboxylation of analogues of DL-phenylalanine with methoxy, ethoxy or methylenedioxy substituents on the aromatic nucleus was assessed in the rat by measuring urinary excretion of the corresponding phenylacetic acids and beta-phenylethylamines. Only trace amounts of these amines and acids were excreted. 2. o-Tyrosine was readily decarboxylated, a property that may be attributed to the position and nature of the substituent on the aromatic nucleus. 3. Some phenylpyruvic acids derived from these amino acids exhibited a certain degree of decarboxylation to phenylacetic acids or reduction to phenyllactic acids in the rat.
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