Fenclonine, also known as para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), is a synthetic amino acid

Amino acid

Amino acids are molecules containing an amine group, a carboxylic acid group and a side-chain that varies between different amino acids. The key elements of an amino acid are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen...

 which acts as a selective and irreversible inhibitor of tryptophan hydroxylase

Tryptophan hydroxylase

Tryptophan hydroxylase is an enzyme involved in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin. TPH catalyzes the following chemical reactionIt employs one cofactor, iron.- Function :...

, which is a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of serotonin

Serotonin

Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter. Biochemically derived from tryptophan, serotonin is primarily found in the gastrointestinal tract, platelets, and in the central nervous system of animals including humans...

. Fenclonine consequently depletes serotonin in the body and reduces its actions, acting as an indirect serotonin antagonist

Serotonin antagonist

A serotonin antagonist is a drug used to inhibit the action at serotonin receptors.Many of the most important medications of this class selectively act at the 5-HT3 receptor, and thus are known as 5-HT3 antagonists...

. It is used in scientific research to investigate the effects of serotonin depletion on behaviour.

See also

• α-Methyl-para-tyrosine
  Metirosine
  Metirosine is an antihypertensive drug. It inhibits the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase and, therefore, catecholamine synthesis, which, as a consequence, depletes the levels of the catecholamines dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline in the body.-Clinical use:Metirosine has been used in the treatment...
  
   (AMPT)
• para-Chloroamphetamine
  Para-Chloroamphetamine
  para-Chloroamphetamine , also known as 4-chloroamphetamine , is an amphetamine derivative and monoamine releaser similar to MDMA, but with substantially higher neurotoxicity, thought to be due to the unrestrained release of both serotonin and dopamine as with MDMA itself...
  
  (PCA)