Fig. 1: Schematic of the main metabolic pathway involving DOPAL.
From: A dopamine metabolite stabilizes neurotoxic amyloid-β oligomers

The catecholamine neurotransmitter dopamine is oxidised into the catecholaldehyde DOPAL (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde) by monoamine oxidases (MAO), and further converted into the less toxic catecholic acid DOPAC (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) by aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH).