Mechanism of action of salsolinol on tyrosine hydroxylase.

•Salsolinol binds to the inhibitory dopamine binding sites on tyrosine hydroxylase with low and high affinity.•Salsolinol uses the same inhibitory mechanisms as dopamine on tyrosine hydroxylase.•Salsolinol inhibits phosphorylated tyrosine hydroxylase more strongly than dopamine.•Salsolinol-bound TH is more rapidly phosphorylated at Ser40 than dopamine-bound tyrosine hydroxylase.