D-Threo-dihydroxyphenylserine (Droxidopa)

A summary of the most common chemical descriptors (InChI Key and SMILES codes) for D-Threo-dihydroxyphenylserine (Droxidopa) are summarized together with 3D and 2D structures and relevant physico-chemical properties.

What is the D-Threo-dihydroxyphenylserine (Droxidopa)?

The molecule D-Threo-dihydroxyphenylserine (Droxidopa) presents a molecular formula of C₉H₁₁NO₅ and its IUPAC name is (2R,3S)-2-amino-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropanoic acid.

Droxidopa (D-threo-dihydroxyphenylserine) is a synthetic catecholamine used as a norepinephrine (NE) prodrug in the treatment of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH). It is also being investigated as a treatment for other conditions including fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and major depressive disorder..

Droxidopa is structurally similar to L-threo-dihydroxyphenylserine (also known as levodopa or L-DOPA), the immediate precursor to dopamine. Unlike levodopa, droxidopa is not metabolized to dopamine and so does not cross the blood-brain barrier. Instead, it is metabolized to norepinephrine (NE) and 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT)..

The pharmacologic effects of droxidopa are mediated by its conversion to NE. NE is a neurotransmitter involved in the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the fight-or-flight response. It is also a vasopressor, meaning that it constricts blood vessels..

Droxidopa is thought to work in NOH by increasing NE levels in the brain and by increasing blood pressure. It is unclear how it works in other conditions..

Droxidopa was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014 for the treatment of NOH. It exists as an oral capsule and an oral solution..

The most common side effects of droxidopa are headache, nausea, and dizziness. It can also cause high blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat..

Droxidopa should be used with caution in people with cardiovascular disease or a history of stroke. It should not be used in pregnant or breastfeeding women..

Droxidopa is a promising new treatment for NOH and other conditions. However, more research is needed to understand its full effects and potential side effects..

3D structure

Cartesian coordinates

Geometry of D-Threo-dihydroxyphenylserine (Droxidopa) in x, y and z coordinates (Å units) to copy/paste elsewhere. Generated with Open Babel software.

2D drawing

Molecule descriptors

Other names (synonyms)

IUPAC nomenclature provides a standardized method for naming chemical compounds. Although this system is widely used in chemistry, many chemical compounds have also other names commonly used in different contexts. These synonyms can come from a variety of sources and are used for a variety of purposes.

One common source of synonyms for chemical compounds is the common or trivial names, assigned on the basis of appearance, properties, or origin of the molecule.

Another source of synonyms are historical or obsolete names employed in the past, however replaced nowadays by more modern or standardized names.

In addition to common and historical names, chemical compounds may also have synonyms that are specific to a particular field or industry.

Reference codes for other databases

• CAS number (Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number) is a unique identifier is assigned to every chemical compound indexed in the CAS database.
• Beilstein: The Beilstein database is a comprehensive source of information on organic chemistry, including information on chemical structures, properties, and reactions. The Beilstein database assigns unique identifiers which can be used to identify compounds in scientific literature and other sources.
• ChEBI (Chemical Entities of Biological Interest): ChEBI is a database of small chemical molecules that are of interest in the field of biology.
• PubChem CID (Compound Identifier): PubChem is a database of chemical compounds that is maintained by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• RTECS number (Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances): The RTECS is a database of information on the toxic effects of chemicals, including information on their structures and properties.
• ChEMBL (Compound Bioactivity Data): ChEMBL is a database of bioactivity data for small molecules, including information on their properties and structures.
• CompTox Dashboard (Environmental Protection Agency): The CompTox Dashboard is a database of information on the toxicology and environmental effects of chemicals.

Physico-Chemical properties

LogP and topological polar surface area (TPSA) values were estimated using Open Babel software.

The n-octanol/water partition coeficient (K_ow) data is applied in toxicology and drug research. K_ow values are used, to guess the environmental fate of persistent organic pollutants. High partition coefficients values, tend to accumulate in the fatty tissue of organisms. Molecules with a log(K_ow) (or LogP) greater than 5 are considered to bioaccumulate.

TPSA values are the sum of the surface area over all polar atoms or molecules, mainly oxygen and nitrogen, also including hydrogen atoms.

In medicinal chemistry, TPSA is used to assess the ability of a drug to permeabilise cells.

For molecules to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (and act on receptors in the central nervous system), TPSA values below 90 Ų are required. Thus, molecules with a polar surface area greater than 140 Ų tend to be poorly permeable to cell membranes.