Homovanillic acid (HVA) is a dopamine metabolite. It is formed via deamination of dopamine by monoamine oxidase (MAO) to produce 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC; ) followed by DOPAC metabolism by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). HVA undergoes hydrogen peroxide-dependent oxidation in the presence of horseradish peroxidase to form a fluorescent dimer that displays excitation/emission maxima of 312/420 nm, respectively. It has been used to quantify hydrogen peroxide production in macrophages and neutrophils.
white to beige crystalline powder
A neuroendocrine tumor marker. Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid (DOPAC) metabolite.
Fluorimetric reagent and major catecholamine metaboliteHomovanillic acid is used as a reagent in the determination of oxidative enzymes. It is associated with dopamine levels in the brain. Its presence supports a diagnosis of neuroblastoma and malignant pheochromocytoma.
ChEBI: A monocarboxylic acid that is the 3-O-methyl ether of (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)acetic acid. It is a catecholamine metabolite.
Fluorimetric reagent and major catecholamine metabolite. Used for fluorimetric determination of oxidative enzymes including glucose oxidase.
[1] MIKKO KENMKI. Quantitative role of COMT in dopamine clearance in the prefrontal cortex of freely moving mice[J]. Journal of Neurochemistry, 2010, 114 6: 1745-1755. DOI:
10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06889.x[2] WALTER RUCH Marco B Philip H Cooper. Assay of H2O2 production by macrophages and neutrophils with homovanillic acid and horse-radish peroxidase[J]. Journal of immunological methods, 1983, 63 3: Pages 347-357. DOI:
10.1016/s0022-1759(83)80008-8
