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Tyrosine Hydroxylase

Meaning

Tyrosine Hydroxylase (TH) is the essential, rate-limiting enzyme in the complex biosynthetic pathway for all catecholamine neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. This enzyme catalyzes the initial, crucial step: the conversion of the amino acid L-tyrosine into L-DOPA, the precursor molecule for all subsequent catecholamines. Its activity is rigorously regulated by neural input and hormonal signals, making it a critical control point for the body’s stress response, autonomic function, and mood regulation.