dopamine metabolic pathway dopamine oxidation pathway 2016-03-29T11:14:20Z PW:0002575 The reactions thereby dopamine can spontaneously oxidize under aerobic conditions. In the process, radicals are being formed that can potentially exert noxious effects. Oxidation of dopamine gives rise to three quinone species that can form adducts with proteins or be precursor to the neuromelanin pigment (NM). NM, which accumulates with age, but is diminished in Parkinson disease patients may confer protective roles, particularly as a metal chelator. pathway vpetri