National Cancer Institute Thesaurus

Last uploaded: February 23, 2024
Preferred Name

Racemetyrosine

Synonyms

D,L-alpha-metyrosine

RACEMETYROSINE

Racemetirosine

alpha-Methylparatyrosine, DL-

Racemetyrosine

(+-)-alpha-Methyl-DL-tyrosine

alpha-Methyltyrosine

SM 88

SM-88

SM88

Definitions

A dysfunctional and modified form of the non-essential amino acid tyrosine and an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; tyrosine 3-monooxygenase), with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon administration, racemetyrosine is specifically taken up by cancer cells through the transporter L-amino acid transferase-1 (LAT1; CD98). As a tyrosine derivative and faulty amino acid protein building block, racemetyrosine prevents protein synthesis in cancer cells. Specifically, this prevents mucin-1 (MUC1) protein synthesis. MUC1 is highly overexpressed by most cancer cells and regulates the increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells created from the altered metabolism that cancer cells utilize, by upregulating key antioxidant defenses and preventing ROS-mediated apoptosis. In the absence of MUC1, ROS levels are increased, leading to an increase in oxidative stress, and induction of apoptosis. Also, being a protective transmembrane protein, MUC1 is part of the protective layer on the outside of cancer cells and plays a key role in shielding the cancer cell from the immune system. The loss of MUC1 compromises the cell membrane, thereby making the cancer cell more vulnerable to be recognized and attacked by the immune system. Normal cells do not regularly take up certain non-essential amino acids, such as tyrosine, but readily convert phenylalanine to tyrosine, so normal healthy cells are not expected to consume racemetyrosine. In addition, racemetyrosine competes with tyrosine at the tyrosine-binding site of TH, thereby inhibiting TH, an enzyme that activates molecular oxygen to catalyze the hydroxylation of tyrosine to dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa), which is an intermediate to catecholamine (dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine) production. This inhibits the synthesis of catecholamines.

ID

http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/xml/owl/EVS/Thesaurus.owl#C74152

CAS_Registry

620-30-4

658-48-0

Chemical_Formula

C10H13NO3

code

C74152

Concept_In_Subset

http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/xml/owl/EVS/Thesaurus.owl#C176424

http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/xml/owl/EVS/Thesaurus.owl#C116978

http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/xml/owl/EVS/Thesaurus.owl#C116977

http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/xml/owl/EVS/Thesaurus.owl#C63923

Contributing_Source

CTRP

FDA

DEFINITION

A dysfunctional and modified form of the non-essential amino acid tyrosine and an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; tyrosine 3-monooxygenase), with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon administration, racemetyrosine is specifically taken up by cancer cells through the transporter L-amino acid transferase-1 (LAT1; CD98). As a tyrosine derivative and faulty amino acid protein building block, racemetyrosine prevents protein synthesis in cancer cells. Specifically, this prevents mucin-1 (MUC1) protein synthesis. MUC1 is highly overexpressed by most cancer cells and regulates the increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells created from the altered metabolism that cancer cells utilize, by upregulating key antioxidant defenses and preventing ROS-mediated apoptosis. In the absence of MUC1, ROS levels are increased, leading to an increase in oxidative stress, and induction of apoptosis. Also, being a protective transmembrane protein, MUC1 is part of the protective layer on the outside of cancer cells and plays a key role in shielding the cancer cell from the immune system. The loss of MUC1 compromises the cell membrane, thereby making the cancer cell more vulnerable to be recognized and attacked by the immune system. Normal cells do not regularly take up certain non-essential amino acids, such as tyrosine, but readily convert phenylalanine to tyrosine, so normal healthy cells are not expected to consume racemetyrosine. In addition, racemetyrosine competes with tyrosine at the tyrosine-binding site of TH, thereby inhibiting TH, an enzyme that activates molecular oxygen to catalyze the hydroxylation of tyrosine to dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa), which is an intermediate to catecholamine (dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine) production. This inhibits the synthesis of catecholamines.

Display_Name

Racemetyrosine

FDA_UNII_Code

X88TTO174Z

FULL_SYN

D,L-alpha-metyrosine

RACEMETYROSINE

Racemetirosine

alpha-Methylparatyrosine, DL-

Racemetyrosine

(+-)-alpha-Methyl-DL-tyrosine

alpha-Methyltyrosine

SM 88

SM-88

SM88

Has_Target

http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/xml/owl/EVS/Thesaurus.owl#C127896

label

Racemetyrosine

Legacy Concept Name

Racemetirosine

NCI_Drug_Dictionary_ID

802001

PDQ_Closed_Trial_Search_ID

802001

PDQ_Open_Trial_Search_ID

802001

Preferred_Name

Racemetyrosine

prefixIRI

Thesaurus:C74152

Semantic_Type

Pharmacologic Substance

UMLS_CUI

C0949561

subClassOf

http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/xml/owl/EVS/Thesaurus.owl#C471

http://ncicb.nci.nih.gov/xml/owl/EVS/Thesaurus.owl#C270

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