Biol. Bull. Sign up for etocs!
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Waite, J. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Waite, J. H.

The Biological Bulletin, Vol 183, Issue 1 178-184, Copyright © 1992 by Marine Biological Laboratory

SIGNALING SYSTEMS, VENOMS, AND ADHESIVES: RECURRING THEMES AND VARIATIONS

The DOPA Ephemera: A Recurrent Motif in Invertebrates

J. H. Waite
Marine Biology-Biochemistry Program, College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, Lewes, Delaware 19958

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) occurs transiently in nature as a free or peptide-bound amino acid. It is probably universally distributed in tissues and fluids of invertebrates. DOPA is a highly versatile metabolite, participating in neuroendocrine, immune, and reproductive functions, as well as in the formation of such products as bioadhesives, silks, integuments, and pigments. The mechanism by which DOPA is formed from tyrosine or peptidyl tyrosine remains to be determined in most cases. Future advances in DOPA chemistry may lead to a better understanding of the resonance between structural and sensory functions in animals.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
G. A. Miller, M. S. Islam, T. D. W. Claridge, T. Dodgson, and S. J. Simpson
Swarm formation in the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria: isolation and NMR analysis of the primary maternal gregarizing agent
J. Exp. Biol., February 1, 2008; 211(3): 370 - 376.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1992 by the Marine Biological Laboratory.