title: The role of L-DOPA in plants.
abstract: Since higher plants regularly release organic compounds into the environment, their decay products are often added to the soil matrix and a few have been reported as agents of plant-plant interactions. These compounds, active against higher plants, typically suppress seed germination, cause injury to root growth and other meristems, and inhibit seedling growth. Mucuna pruriens is an example of a successful cover crop with several highly active secondary chemical agents that are produced by its seeds, leaves and roots. The main phytotoxic compound encountered is the non-protein amino acid L-DOPA, which is used in treating the symptoms of Parkinson disease. In plants, L-DOPA is a precursor of many alkaloids, catecholamines, and melanin and is released from Mucuna into soils, inhibiting the growth of nearby plant species. This mini-review summarizes knowledge regarding L-DOPA in plants, providing a brief overview about its metabolic actions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry; Department of Biochemistry; State University of Maringá; Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anderson Ricardo
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry; Department of Biochemistry; State University of Maringá; Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogério
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marchiosi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry; Department of Biochemistry; State University of Maringá; Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Siqueira-Soares
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry; Department of Biochemistry; State University of Maringá; Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogério
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barbosa de Lima
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry; Department of Biochemistry; State University of Maringá; Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wanderley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dantas dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry; Department of Biochemistry; State University of Maringá; Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: Osvaldo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ferrarese-Filho
mesh_terms: D007980:Levodopa / Q000378:metabolism*; D031299:Mucuna / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010675:Pheromones
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones; D007980:Levodopa
keywords: Allelopathy; L-DOPA; Mucuna; allelochemicals; non-protein amino acid; plant growth; reactive oxygen species