(S)-ATPA

Description

(S)-ATPA stands for **(S)-2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid**. It's a chiral molecule, meaning it exists in two mirror-image forms called enantiomers: (S)-ATPA and (R)-ATPA.

**Why is (S)-ATPA important for research?**

(S)-ATPA is a key building block for the synthesis of various important compounds, including:

* **Drugs:** (S)-ATPA is used to synthesize various drugs like:
* **L-DOPA**: A key treatment for Parkinson's disease.
* **Dopamine agonists**: Used to treat Parkinson's disease and restless leg syndrome.
* **Tyrosine kinase inhibitors**: Used in cancer treatment.
* **Peptides and proteins**: (S)-ATPA is an amino acid, a key building block for peptides and proteins.
* **Biomaterials**: (S)-ATPA can be incorporated into biomaterials used in tissue engineering and drug delivery.

**Specifically, (S)-ATPA is important for research because:**

* **Chirality**: The specific stereochemistry of (S)-ATPA is crucial for its biological activity. The (S)-enantiomer often exhibits different properties compared to the (R)-enantiomer.
* **Versatility**: It is a versatile building block used in the synthesis of a wide variety of molecules with diverse biological activities.
* **Metabolic pathway relevance**: (S)-ATPA is a natural amino acid involved in important metabolic pathways like tyrosine metabolism. Understanding its role in these pathways is crucial for research in various fields, including drug discovery and metabolic disorders.

**In summary, (S)-ATPA is a valuable molecule for research due to its biological activity, chiral nature, versatility in synthesis, and relevance in metabolic pathways.** Its importance is reflected in its use in the synthesis of drugs, peptides, proteins, and biomaterials.

(S)-ATPA : A non-proteinogenic L-alpha-amino acid that is L-alanine in which one of the methyl hydrogens is replaced by a 5-tert-butyl-3-hydroxy-isooxazol-4-yl group. [Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI), Hastings J, Owen G, Dekker A, Ennis M, Kale N, Muthukrishnan V, Turner S, Swainston N, Mendes P, Steinbeck C. (2016). ChEBI in 2016: Improved services and an expanding collection of metabolites. Nucleic Acids Res]