3-O-Methyldopa

3-O-Methyldopa
Names
	IUPAC name 2-Amino-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propanoic acid.
	Other names 3-Methoxytyrosine; 3-Methoxydopa; L-3-O-Methyl-DOPA; 3-Methoxy-L-tyrosine; L-4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylalanine; L-3-Methoxytyrosine; L-3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylalanine
Identifiers
CAS Number	7636-26-2 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChEBI	CHEBI:82913;
ChemSpider	8948;
PubChem CID	9307;
UNII	SO86T1OB2P ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID401315157 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C10H13NO4/c1-15-9-5-6(2-3-8(9)12)4-7(11)10(13)14/h2-3,5,7,12H,4,11H2,1H3,(H,13,14)/t7-/m0/s1 Key: PFDUUKDQEHURQC-ZETCQYMHSA-N; InChI=1/C10H13NO4/c1-15-9-5-6(2-3-8(9)12)4-7(11)10(13)14/h2-3,5,7,12H,4,11H2,1H3,(H,13,14)/t7-/m0/s1 Key: PFDUUKDQEHURQC-ZETCQYMHBZ;
	SMILES COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C[C@@H](C(=O)O)N)O;
Properties
Chemical formula	C10H13NO4
Molar mass	211.217 g·mol−1
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

3-O-Methyldopa (3-OMD) is one of the most important metabolites of L-DOPA, a drug used in the treatment of the Parkinson's disease.

3-O-methyldopa is produced by the methylation of L-DOPA by the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase. The necessary cofactor for this enzymatic reaction is s-adenosyl methionine (SAM). Its half-life (approximately 15 hours) is longer than L-DOPA's half-life, which is about one hour. This means that it is accumulated in the plasma and the brain of chronic L-DOPA therapy patients such as people suffering from Parkinson's disease.

3-OMD is often elevated in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of Parkinson's disease patients taking L-DOPA. It's serum levels are also elevated in patients with AADC deficit, making it a useful marker for screening of this disease.