An enzyme that catalyzes the decarboxylation of l-dopa to dopamine, of l-tryptophan to tryptamine, and of l-hydroxytryptophan to serotonin; important in the biosynthetic pathway of catecholamines and melanin. SYN: dopa decarboxylase, hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase, tryptophan decarboxylase.
Medical dictionary. 2011.