Precursor to tetrahydrobiopterin, a required cofactor for a number of enzymes, including the biosynthesis of l-tyrosine; the inability to synthesize d. can result in a form of malignant hyperphenylalaninemia.
- d. reductase SYN: dihydropteridine reductase.
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di·hy·dro·bi·op·ter·in (di-hi″dro-bi-opґtər-in) a reduced pteridine derivative related to folic acid; its quinoid form is produced by oxidation of tetrahydrobiopterin in several biological hydroxylation reactions.Medical dictionary. 2011.