{"gene":"TG_212710","gene_symbol":"AAH2","run_date":"2026-09-08T11:06:24","timeline":{"discoveries":[{"year":2017,"finding":"AAH2 (and AAH1) encode proteins that produce L-DOPA from phenylalanine, which can serve as a structural precursor for melanins, secondary quinones, and dityrosine protein crosslinks relevant to oocyst wall biology; knockout of AAH genes resulted in reduced infection in the cat, lower oocyst yields, and decreased rates of sporulation, indicating a predominant role during sexual reproduction in the feline definitive host.","method":"Genetic knockout of AAH1 and AAH2 followed by in vivo infection of cats and measurement of oocyst yield and sporulation rates","journal":"PLoS pathogens","confidence":"Medium","confidence_rationale":"Tier 2 / Moderate — clean genetic knockout with defined in vivo phenotypic readout (oocyst yield, sporulation), single lab, two phenotypic endpoints","pmids":["28288194"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Toxoplasma gondii","strain":""}]},{"year":2014,"finding":"AAH2 knockout parasites showed no observable phenotype in parasite growth or differentiation in vitro and in vivo, and overexpression of AAH2 under the BAG1 promoter did not alter host dopamine levels in vitro or in vivo, indicating AAH2 is not required for global or regional dopamine alterations in the host brain.","method":"Knockout and complementation of AAH2 gene; AAH2 overexpression under BAG1 promoter; measurement of host brain dopamine levels in vitro and in vivo","journal":"Infection and immunity","confidence":"Medium","confidence_rationale":"Tier 2 / Moderate — genetic KO with complementation and overexpression, multiple readouts, single lab; finding is a negative result for dopamine alteration","pmids":["25547791"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Toxoplasma gondii","strain":""}]},{"year":2018,"finding":"Deletion of AAH2 had no effect on T. gondii infection-induced dopamine-dependent neurobehavioral abnormalities (blunted response to amphetamine/cocaine, decreased DAT and VMAT2 expression) or neuroinflammation in mice, demonstrating AAH2 is not required for these dopaminergic alterations.","method":"AAH2 deletion strain vs. wild-type T. gondii infection of BALB/c mice; behavioral testing with amphetamine/cocaine; Western blot/immunohistochemistry for DAT and VMAT2; neuroinflammation assessment","journal":"Behavioural brain research","confidence":"Medium","confidence_rationale":"Tier 2 / Moderate — genetic KO with multiple behavioral and molecular readouts in vivo, single lab; finding is a negative result for AAH2 role in dopaminergic neurobehavioral changes","pmids":["29555339"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Toxoplasma gondii","strain":""},{"species":"Mus musculus","strain":"BALB/c"}]},{"year":2017,"finding":"Deletion of AAH2 did not rescue the growth defect of Toxoplasma tachyzoites in tyrosine-limiting media, demonstrating that AAH2-mediated synthesis of tyrosine from phenylalanine is insufficient to support parasite growth when exogenous tyrosine is limiting.","method":"AAH2 deletion strain growth assays (plaque assay) in tyrosine-titrated media; comparison of wild-type and Δaah2 parasites","journal":"Experimental parasitology","confidence":"Medium","confidence_rationale":"Tier 2 / Moderate — genetic KO with quantitative in vitro growth assay under defined nutrient conditions, single lab; finding is a negative result for AAH2 rescuing tyrosine auxotrophy","pmids":["28257757"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Toxoplasma gondii","strain":""}]},{"year":2019,"finding":"eGFP-tagged AAH2 is expressed and localizable specifically in the bradyzoite stage of T. gondii, as demonstrated by fluorescence imaging in vitro and in vivo in mouse models of chronic infection.","method":"TALEN-mediated tagging of AAH2 with eGFP; fluorescence imaging in vitro and by in vivo Bruker imaging system in chronically infected mice","journal":"Parasites & vectors","confidence":"Low","confidence_rationale":"Tier 3 / Weak — single localization experiment in one lab, no functional consequence linked to localization","pmids":["30876436"],"is_preprint":false,"attribution":[{"species":"Toxoplasma gondii","strain":"PRU"}]}],"current_model":"Toxoplasma gondii AAH2 encodes an aromatic amino acid hydroxylase capable of producing L-DOPA from phenylalanine and is expressed specifically in bradyzoites; its primary established role is in the sexual reproductive cycle in the feline definitive host, where its loss reduces oocyst yield and sporulation, while it is dispensable for tachyzoite/bradyzoite growth in vitro, for rescuing tyrosine auxotrophy, and for dopamine-dependent neurochemical or behavioral alterations in the infected rodent host."},"narrative":{"mechanistic_narrative":"Toxoplasma gondii AAH2 encodes an aromatic amino acid hydroxylase that produces L-DOPA from phenylalanine, a precursor implicated in melanins, secondary quinones, and dityrosine protein crosslinks relevant to oocyst wall biology; its predominant established role is in the parasite's sexual reproductive cycle in the feline definitive host, where deletion of AAH genes reduces cat infection, oocyst yield, and sporulation rates [PMID:28288194]. Expression is restricted to the bradyzoite stage, as shown by stage-specific eGFP-tagged AAH2 localization in vitro and in chronically infected mice [PMID:30876436]. AAH2 is dispensable for asexual biology: its loss produces no growth or differentiation phenotype in tachyzoites or bradyzoites, and its overexpression does not alter host brain dopamine [PMID:25547791]; deletion neither rescues the growth defect of tachyzoites under tyrosine-limiting conditions [PMID:28257757] nor is required for infection-induced dopamine-dependent neurobehavioral changes or neuroinflammation in mice [PMID:29555339]. Beyond these genetic and localization studies, no structural or enzymatic-mechanistic detail of AAH2 has been characterized in the available corpus.","teleology":[{"year":2014,"claim":"To test the long-standing hypothesis that a parasite aromatic amino acid hydroxylase drives host dopamine changes, AAH2 was knocked out and overexpressed and host brain dopamine measured, establishing that AAH2 is not required for global or regional dopamine alterations.","evidence":"AAH2 knockout, complementation, and BAG1-promoter overexpression with host brain dopamine measurement in vitro and in vivo","pmids":["25547791"],"confidence":"Medium","gaps":["Does not identify what AAH2 does contribute to in the parasite life cycle","Does not assess enzymatic activity of AAH2 directly"],"attribution":[{"species":"Toxoplasma gondii","strain":""}]},{"year":2017,"claim":"To assign a definitive biological role, AAH gene knockouts were assayed in the feline host, revealing that AAH-derived L-DOPA production is predominantly needed for sexual reproduction, with reduced cat infection, oocyst yield, and sporulation.","evidence":"Genetic knockout of AAH1 and AAH2 with in vivo cat infection measuring oocyst yield and sporulation","pmids":["28288194"],"confidence":"Medium","gaps":["Combined AAH1/AAH2 phenotype does not isolate AAH2's individual contribution","Direct biochemical demonstration of L-DOPA's role in oocyst wall crosslinking not shown","Molecular mechanism connecting L-DOPA to wall biology not established"],"attribution":[{"species":"Toxoplasma gondii","strain":""}]},{"year":2017,"claim":"To test whether AAH2 supports parasite amino acid needs, deletion strains were grown under limiting tyrosine, showing AAH2-mediated tyrosine synthesis from phenylalanine is insufficient to rescue tachyzoite growth.","evidence":"Plaque assays of wild-type and Δaah2 parasites in tyrosine-titrated media","pmids":["28257757"],"confidence":"Medium","gaps":["Does not measure AAH2 catalytic output quantitatively","Does not address whether AAH2 supports tyrosine needs in other stages"],"attribution":[{"species":"Toxoplasma gondii","strain":""}]},{"year":2018,"claim":"To directly test AAH2's role in behavioral manipulation, deletion strains were assayed for dopamine-dependent neurobehavioral abnormalities and neuroinflammation in mice, confirming AAH2 is not required for these dopaminergic alterations.","evidence":"Δaah2 vs wild-type infection of BALB/c mice with amphetamine/cocaine behavioral testing, DAT/VMAT2 blots and immunohistochemistry, neuroinflammation assessment","pmids":["29555339"],"confidence":"Medium","gaps":["Does not identify the source of infection-induced dopaminergic changes","Restricted to BALB/c background"],"attribution":[{"species":"Toxoplasma gondii","strain":""},{"species":"Mus musculus","strain":"BALB/c"}]},{"year":2019,"claim":"To localize AAH2 within the parasite life cycle, eGFP-tagged AAH2 was imaged, establishing bradyzoite-stage-specific expression consistent with a role during chronic/differentiated stages.","evidence":"TALEN-mediated eGFP tagging with fluorescence imaging in vitro and in vivo in chronically infected mice (PRU strain)","pmids":["30876436"],"confidence":"Low","gaps":["Single localization experiment with no functional consequence linked to localization","Subcellular localization within the bradyzoite not resolved","Not linked mechanistically to the oocyst/sexual-cycle phenotype"],"attribution":[{"species":"Toxoplasma gondii","strain":"PRU"}]},{"year":null,"claim":"The biochemical mechanism by which AAH2-derived L-DOPA contributes to oocyst wall formation and sporulation, and AAH2's individual (versus AAH1-shared) enzymatic contribution, remain unresolved.","evidence":"","pmids":[],"confidence":"Low","gaps":["No structural or purified-enzyme kinetic characterization of AAH2","Direct link between L-DOPA and dityrosine/melanin crosslinking in the oocyst wall not demonstrated","AAH2-specific contribution not separated from AAH1"],"attribution":[{"species":"Toxoplasma gondii","strain":""}]}],"mechanism_profile":{"molecular_activity":[],"localization":[],"pathway":[],"complexes":[],"partners":[],"other_free_text":["Produces L-DOPA from phenylalanine, a precursor for melanins, secondary quinones, and dityrosine protein crosslinks relevant to oocyst wall biology [#0].","Expressed specifically in the bradyzoite stage [#4].","Predominant functional role in the sexual reproductive cycle in the feline definitive host; loss reduces oocyst yield and sporulation [#0].","Dispensable for tachyzoite/bradyzoite growth and differentiation, for rescuing tyrosine auxotrophy, and for dopamine-dependent neurobehavioral alterations in the rodent host [#1, #2, #3]."]},"strain_conflicts":[]},"prefetch_data":{},"corpus_meta":[{"pmid":"25547791","id":"PMC_25547791","title":"Reassessment of the role of aromatic amino acid hydroxylases and the effect of infection by Toxoplasma gondii on host dopamine.","date":"2014","source":"Infection and immunity","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25547791","citation_count":63,"is_preprint":false},{"pmid":"28288194","id":"PMC_28288194","title":"The aromatic amino acid hydroxylase genes AAH1 and AAH2 in Toxoplasma gondii contribute to transmission in the cat.","date":"2017","source":"PLoS pathogens","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28288194","citation_count":38,"is_preprint":false},{"pmid":"29555339","id":"PMC_29555339","title":"AAH2 gene is not required for dopamine-dependent neurochemical and behavioral abnormalities produced by Toxoplasma infection in mouse.","date":"2018","source":"Behavioural brain research","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29555339","citation_count":23,"is_preprint":false},{"pmid":"28257757","id":"PMC_28257757","title":"Toxoplasma growth in vitro is dependent on exogenous tyrosine and is independent of AAH2 even in tyrosine-limiting conditions.","date":"2017","source":"Experimental parasitology","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28257757","citation_count":20,"is_preprint":false},{"pmid":"30876436","id":"PMC_30876436","title":"Efficient genome engineering of Toxoplasma gondii using the TALEN technique.","date":"2019","source":"Parasites & vectors","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30876436","citation_count":6,"is_preprint":false}],"cost":{"stage1":{"model":"claude-sonnet-4-6","input_tokens":4512,"output_tokens":1475,"usd":0.01783,"stage1_stop_reason":"end_turn"},"stage2":{"model":"claude-opus-4-8","input_tokens":6636,"output_tokens":2643,"usd":0.049627,"stage2_stop_reason":"end_turn"},"total_usd":0.067457,"stage1_batch_id":"msgbatch_01WokvBYTB6JLnYrpD4rXnyV","stage2_batch_id":"msgbatch_01M7hsQDvz6AqVC9DLVjQzzc","note":"batch pricing = 50% of standard"},"stage1_raw":"```json\n{\n  \"discoveries\": [\n    {\n      \"year\": 2017,\n      \"finding\": \"AAH2 (and AAH1) encode proteins that produce L-DOPA from phenylalanine, which can serve as a structural precursor for melanins, secondary quinones, and dityrosine protein crosslinks relevant to oocyst wall biology; knockout of AAH genes resulted in reduced infection in the cat, lower oocyst yields, and decreased rates of sporulation, indicating a predominant role during sexual reproduction in the feline definitive host.\",\n      \"method\": \"Genetic knockout of AAH1 and AAH2 followed by in vivo infection of cats and measurement of oocyst yield and sporulation rates\",\n      \"journal\": \"PLoS pathogens\",\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 2 / Moderate — clean genetic knockout with defined in vivo phenotypic readout (oocyst yield, sporulation), single lab, two phenotypic endpoints\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"28288194\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Toxoplasma gondii\", \"strain\": \"\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2014,\n      \"finding\": \"AAH2 knockout parasites showed no observable phenotype in parasite growth or differentiation in vitro and in vivo, and overexpression of AAH2 under the BAG1 promoter did not alter host dopamine levels in vitro or in vivo, indicating AAH2 is not required for global or regional dopamine alterations in the host brain.\",\n      \"method\": \"Knockout and complementation of AAH2 gene; AAH2 overexpression under BAG1 promoter; measurement of host brain dopamine levels in vitro and in vivo\",\n      \"journal\": \"Infection and immunity\",\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 2 / Moderate — genetic KO with complementation and overexpression, multiple readouts, single lab; finding is a negative result for dopamine alteration\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"25547791\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Toxoplasma gondii\", \"strain\": \"\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2018,\n      \"finding\": \"Deletion of AAH2 had no effect on T. gondii infection-induced dopamine-dependent neurobehavioral abnormalities (blunted response to amphetamine/cocaine, decreased DAT and VMAT2 expression) or neuroinflammation in mice, demonstrating AAH2 is not required for these dopaminergic alterations.\",\n      \"method\": \"AAH2 deletion strain vs. wild-type T. gondii infection of BALB/c mice; behavioral testing with amphetamine/cocaine; Western blot/immunohistochemistry for DAT and VMAT2; neuroinflammation assessment\",\n      \"journal\": \"Behavioural brain research\",\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 2 / Moderate — genetic KO with multiple behavioral and molecular readouts in vivo, single lab; finding is a negative result for AAH2 role in dopaminergic neurobehavioral changes\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"29555339\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Toxoplasma gondii\", \"strain\": \"\"}, {\"species\": \"Mus musculus\", \"strain\": \"BALB/c\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2017,\n      \"finding\": \"Deletion of AAH2 did not rescue the growth defect of Toxoplasma tachyzoites in tyrosine-limiting media, demonstrating that AAH2-mediated synthesis of tyrosine from phenylalanine is insufficient to support parasite growth when exogenous tyrosine is limiting.\",\n      \"method\": \"AAH2 deletion strain growth assays (plaque assay) in tyrosine-titrated media; comparison of wild-type and Δaah2 parasites\",\n      \"journal\": \"Experimental parasitology\",\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 2 / Moderate — genetic KO with quantitative in vitro growth assay under defined nutrient conditions, single lab; finding is a negative result for AAH2 rescuing tyrosine auxotrophy\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"28257757\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Toxoplasma gondii\", \"strain\": \"\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2019,\n      \"finding\": \"eGFP-tagged AAH2 is expressed and localizable specifically in the bradyzoite stage of T. gondii, as demonstrated by fluorescence imaging in vitro and in vivo in mouse models of chronic infection.\",\n      \"method\": \"TALEN-mediated tagging of AAH2 with eGFP; fluorescence imaging in vitro and by in vivo Bruker imaging system in chronically infected mice\",\n      \"journal\": \"Parasites & vectors\",\n      \"confidence\": \"Low\",\n      \"confidence_rationale\": \"Tier 3 / Weak — single localization experiment in one lab, no functional consequence linked to localization\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"30876436\"],\n      \"is_preprint\": false,\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Toxoplasma gondii\", \"strain\": \"PRU\"}]\n    }\n  ],\n  \"current_model\": \"Toxoplasma gondii AAH2 encodes an aromatic amino acid hydroxylase capable of producing L-DOPA from phenylalanine and is expressed specifically in bradyzoites; its primary established role is in the sexual reproductive cycle in the feline definitive host, where its loss reduces oocyst yield and sporulation, while it is dispensable for tachyzoite/bradyzoite growth in vitro, for rescuing tyrosine auxotrophy, and for dopamine-dependent neurochemical or behavioral alterations in the infected rodent host.\"\n}\n```","stage2_raw":"```json\n{\n  \"mechanistic_narrative\": \"Toxoplasma gondii AAH2 encodes an aromatic amino acid hydroxylase that produces L-DOPA from phenylalanine, a precursor implicated in melanins, secondary quinones, and dityrosine protein crosslinks relevant to oocyst wall biology; its predominant established role is in the parasite's sexual reproductive cycle in the feline definitive host, where deletion of AAH genes reduces cat infection, oocyst yield, and sporulation rates [#0]. Expression is restricted to the bradyzoite stage, as shown by stage-specific eGFP-tagged AAH2 localization in vitro and in chronically infected mice [#4]. AAH2 is dispensable for asexual biology: its loss produces no growth or differentiation phenotype in tachyzoites or bradyzoites, and its overexpression does not alter host brain dopamine [#1]; deletion neither rescues the growth defect of tachyzoites under tyrosine-limiting conditions [#3] nor is required for infection-induced dopamine-dependent neurobehavioral changes or neuroinflammation in mice [#2]. Beyond these genetic and localization studies, no structural or enzymatic-mechanistic detail of AAH2 has been characterized in the available corpus.\",\n  \"teleology\": [\n    {\n      \"year\": 2014,\n      \"claim\": \"To test the long-standing hypothesis that a parasite aromatic amino acid hydroxylase drives host dopamine changes, AAH2 was knocked out and overexpressed and host brain dopamine measured, establishing that AAH2 is not required for global or regional dopamine alterations.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"AAH2 knockout, complementation, and BAG1-promoter overexpression with host brain dopamine measurement in vitro and in vivo\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"25547791\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"Does not identify what AAH2 does contribute to in the parasite life cycle\", \"Does not assess enzymatic activity of AAH2 directly\"],\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Toxoplasma gondii\", \"strain\": \"\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2017,\n      \"claim\": \"To assign a definitive biological role, AAH gene knockouts were assayed in the feline host, revealing that AAH-derived L-DOPA production is predominantly needed for sexual reproduction, with reduced cat infection, oocyst yield, and sporulation.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"Genetic knockout of AAH1 and AAH2 with in vivo cat infection measuring oocyst yield and sporulation\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"28288194\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"Combined AAH1/AAH2 phenotype does not isolate AAH2's individual contribution\", \"Direct biochemical demonstration of L-DOPA's role in oocyst wall crosslinking not shown\", \"Molecular mechanism connecting L-DOPA to wall biology not established\"],\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Toxoplasma gondii\", \"strain\": \"\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2017,\n      \"claim\": \"To test whether AAH2 supports parasite amino acid needs, deletion strains were grown under limiting tyrosine, showing AAH2-mediated tyrosine synthesis from phenylalanine is insufficient to rescue tachyzoite growth.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"Plaque assays of wild-type and Δaah2 parasites in tyrosine-titrated media\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"28257757\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"Does not measure AAH2 catalytic output quantitatively\", \"Does not address whether AAH2 supports tyrosine needs in other stages\"],\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Toxoplasma gondii\", \"strain\": \"\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2018,\n      \"claim\": \"To directly test AAH2's role in behavioral manipulation, deletion strains were assayed for dopamine-dependent neurobehavioral abnormalities and neuroinflammation in mice, confirming AAH2 is not required for these dopaminergic alterations.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"Δaah2 vs wild-type infection of BALB/c mice with amphetamine/cocaine behavioral testing, DAT/VMAT2 blots and immunohistochemistry, neuroinflammation assessment\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"29555339\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"Medium\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"Does not identify the source of infection-induced dopaminergic changes\", \"Restricted to BALB/c background\"],\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Toxoplasma gondii\", \"strain\": \"\"}, {\"species\": \"Mus musculus\", \"strain\": \"BALB/c\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": 2019,\n      \"claim\": \"To localize AAH2 within the parasite life cycle, eGFP-tagged AAH2 was imaged, establishing bradyzoite-stage-specific expression consistent with a role during chronic/differentiated stages.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"TALEN-mediated eGFP tagging with fluorescence imaging in vitro and in vivo in chronically infected mice (PRU strain)\",\n      \"pmids\": [\"30876436\"],\n      \"confidence\": \"Low\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"Single localization experiment with no functional consequence linked to localization\", \"Subcellular localization within the bradyzoite not resolved\", \"Not linked mechanistically to the oocyst/sexual-cycle phenotype\"],\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Toxoplasma gondii\", \"strain\": \"PRU\"}]\n    },\n    {\n      \"year\": null,\n      \"claim\": \"The biochemical mechanism by which AAH2-derived L-DOPA contributes to oocyst wall formation and sporulation, and AAH2's individual (versus AAH1-shared) enzymatic contribution, remain unresolved.\",\n      \"evidence\": \"\",\n      \"pmids\": [],\n      \"confidence\": \"Low\",\n      \"gaps\": [\"No structural or purified-enzyme kinetic characterization of AAH2\", \"Direct link between L-DOPA and dityrosine/melanin crosslinking in the oocyst wall not demonstrated\", \"AAH2-specific contribution not separated from AAH1\"],\n      \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Toxoplasma gondii\", \"strain\": \"\"}]\n    }\n  ],\n  \"mechanism_profile\": {\n    \"molecular_activity\": [\n      {\"term_id\": \"GO:0004497\", \"supporting_discovery_ids\": [0], \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Toxoplasma gondii\", \"strain\": \"\"}]}\n    ],\n    \"localization\": [],\n    \"pathway\": [\n      {\"term_id\": \"GO:0019752\", \"supporting_discovery_ids\": [0, 3], \"attribution\": [{\"species\": \"Toxoplasma gondii\", \"strain\": \"\"}]}\n    ],\n    \"complexes\": [],\n    \"partners\": [],\n    \"other_free_text\": [\n      \"Produces L-DOPA from phenylalanine, a precursor for melanins, secondary quinones, and dityrosine protein crosslinks relevant to oocyst wall biology [#0].\",\n      \"Expressed specifically in the bradyzoite stage [#4].\",\n      \"Predominant functional role in the sexual reproductive cycle in the feline definitive host; loss reduces oocyst yield and sporulation [#0].\",\n      \"Dispensable for tachyzoite/bradyzoite growth and differentiation, for rescuing tyrosine auxotrophy, and for dopamine-dependent neurobehavioral alterations in the rodent host [#1, #2, #3].\"\n    ]\n  },\n  \"strain_conflicts\": []\n}\n```","audit_flag":null,"strains":[{"strain":"ME49","gene_id":"TGME49_212710","name":null,"product":"phenylalanine-4-hydroxylase","uniprot_acc":"S8ETY4","chromosome":"KE139818","start_pos":10970},{"strain":"ME49","gene_id":"TGME49_212740","name":"AAH2","product":"aromatic amino acid hydrolase AAH2","uniprot_acc":"S8FBW5","chromosome":"TGME49_chrV","start_pos":573975},{"strain":"GT1","gene_id":"TGGT1_212710","name":null,"product":"phenylalanine-4-hydroxylase","uniprot_acc":null,"chromosome":"AAQM03000217","start_pos":53},{"strain":"GT1","gene_id":"TGGT1_212740","name":null,"product":"aromatic amino acid hydrolase AAH2","uniprot_acc":null,"chromosome":"TGGT1_chrV","start_pos":446544},{"strain":"GT1","gene_id":"TGGT1_411100","name":null,"product":"phenylalanine hydroxylase","uniprot_acc":null,"chromosome":"AAQM03000424","start_pos":1},{"strain":"RH88","gene_id":"TGRH88_024090","name":null,"product":"aromatic amino acid hydrolase AAH2","uniprot_acc":null,"chromosome":"CM023086","start_pos":590278},{"strain":"RH88","gene_id":"TGRH88_024120","name":null,"product":"aromatic amino acid hydrolase AAH2","uniprot_acc":null,"chromosome":"CM023086","start_pos":608786},{"strain":"VEG","gene_id":"TGVEG_212710","name":null,"product":"phenylalanine-4-hydroxylase","uniprot_acc":"V4ZA37","chromosome":"TGVEG_chrV","start_pos":522136},{"strain":"VEG","gene_id":"TGVEG_212740A","name":null,"product":"aromatic amino acid hydrolase AAH2","uniprot_acc":"V5B4M7","chromosome":"TGVEG_chrV","start_pos":542766},{"strain":"VEG","gene_id":"TGVEG_212740C","name":null,"product":"aromatic amino acid hydrolase AAH2","uniprot_acc":"V5B4Z6","chromosome":"TGVEG_chrV","start_pos":537234}]}