Description | 1(R),2(N)-dimethyl-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline [N-methyl-(R)salsolinol, NM(R)Sal] is the most potent toxin among isoquinolines. Endogenous isoquinolines with and without catechol structure have been proposed to be neurotoxins specific for dopamine neurons. (PMID 9085193)
(R)salsolinol N-methyltransferase synthesizes N-methyl(R)salsolinol, which is further oxidized into 1,2-dimethyl-6,7-dihydroxyisoquinolinium ion by non-enzymatic and enzymatic oxidation. (PMID 14697894)
Dopamine-derived N-methyl(R)salsolinol is an endogenous MPTP-like neurotoxin to cause Parkinson's disease. In the cerebrospinal fluid from newly diagnosed untreated patients with Parkinson's disease, the level of this toxin was found to increase significantly, compared to control and a disease control, multiple system atrophy. L-DOPA therapy did not seem to affect the level of this toxin. The results suggest that N-methyl(R)salsolinol level in the cerebrospinal fluid may indicate remaining dopamine neurons in the parkinsonian brain. (PMID 10076861)
N-methyl(R)salsolinol (NM(R)Sal) induces apoptosis (but not necrosis) in SH-SY5Y cells, and the apoptotic cascade is initiated by mitochondrial permeability transition and activated by stepwise reactions. (PMID 12200198)
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