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Fenfluramine binds 5-hydroxytryptophan.

R S Root-Bernstein·F C Westall
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Abstract

Fenfluramine, an anorexigenic drug, lowers serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels in brain, spinal fluid, and blood, and has been used as a treatment for autism. Fenfluramine's mode of action is unknown. We present evidence from chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy that fenfluramine selectively binds the serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan. The mode of binding may have general applications for the understanding of drug activity, receptor binding, and for the design of specific antagonists to aromatic compounds.

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5-HydroxytryptophanChemical PhenomenaChemistryFenfluramineHydroxyindoleacetic AcidMagnetic Resonance SpectroscopyModels, MolecularMolecular ConformationSerotoninStructure-Activity RelationshipTryptophanComparative StudyJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

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R S Root-Bernstein, F C Westall. 1984. Fenfluramine binds 5-hydroxytryptophan.. https://doi.org/10.1016/0361-9230(84)90209-0

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