Tryptophan: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:51, 9 February 2025

An essential amino acid

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is important in human nutrition. It is a precursor to several important biomolecules, including serotonin, melatonin, and niacin.

Structure and properties

Tryptophan is an _-amino acid with the chemical formula C__H__N_O_. It contains an indole functional group, which is a bicyclic structure consisting of a six-membered benzene ring fused to a five-membered nitrogen-containing pyrrole ring. This structure is responsible for tryptophan's unique properties and its role in various biological processes.

Biosynthesis

Tryptophan is synthesized in plants and microorganisms from chorismate and anthranilate. The biosynthesis involves several enzymatic steps, including the conversion of chorismate to anthranilate, followed by a series of reactions that lead to the formation of tryptophan.

Metabolism

In humans, tryptophan is metabolized through several pathways. One of the primary pathways is the kynurenine pathway, which leads to the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD_), an essential coenzyme in cellular metabolism. Tryptophan is also a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mood regulation, and melatonin, a hormone involved in sleep regulation.

Dietary sources

Tryptophan is found in various dietary sources, including turkey, chicken, milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, fish, and nuts. It is often associated with the myth that consuming turkey leads to increased sleepiness due to its tryptophan content, although the effect is more likely due to the overall meal composition.

Health implications

Tryptophan supplementation has been studied for its potential effects on mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety, due to its role in serotonin production. However, excessive intake of tryptophan supplements can lead to health issues, such as eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome.

Related pages

References

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-'''Tryptophan''' is an [[amino acid]] that is essential in the human diet. It is one of the 20 standard amino acids, as well as an essential amino acid in the human diet. It is encoded in the standard genetic code as UGG.
+{{Short description|An essential amino acid}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
-== Structure ==
+'''Tryptophan''' is an [[essential amino acid]] that is important in human nutrition. It is a precursor to several important biomolecules, including [[serotonin]], [[melatonin]], and [[niacin]].
-Tryptophan is a large, aromatic, and polar amino acid. It is relatively rare in proteins, making up only 1.4% of the amino acid residues in the average protein. Its structure includes an indole functional group, which is responsible for its unique spectral properties.
-== Function ==
+==Structure and properties==
-Tryptophan plays several important roles in the body. It is a precursor to the neurotransmitter [[serotonin]], the hormone [[melatonin]], and the vitamin [[niacin]]. It also plays a role in protein synthesis, as it is incorporated into proteins during translation.
+Tryptophan is an [[_-amino acid]] with the chemical formula C__H__N_O_. It contains an [[indole]] functional group, which is a bicyclic structure consisting of a six-membered benzene ring fused to a five-membered nitrogen-containing pyrrole ring. This structure is responsible for tryptophan's unique properties and its role in various biological processes.
-== Dietary sources ==
+[[File:Tryptophan-spin.gif|thumb|right|3D model of tryptophan]]
-Tryptophan is found in most protein-based foods or dietary proteins. It is particularly high in chocolate, oats, dried dates, milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, red meat, eggs, fish, poultry, sesame, chickpeas, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, buckwheat, spirulina, and peanuts.
-== Deficiency ==
+==Biosynthesis==
-Tryptophan deficiency can lead to a condition known as pellagra, which is characterized by dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia, and death. It can also lead to depression, as tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation.
+Tryptophan is synthesized in plants and microorganisms from [[chorismate]] and [[anthranilate]]. The biosynthesis involves several enzymatic steps, including the conversion of chorismate to anthranilate, followed by a series of reactions that lead to the formation of tryptophan.
-== See also ==
+[[File:Tryptophan_biosynthesis_(en).svg|thumb|right|Biosynthesis of tryptophan]]
+==Metabolism==
+In humans, tryptophan is metabolized through several pathways. One of the primary pathways is the kynurenine pathway, which leads to the production of [[nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide]] (NAD_), an essential coenzyme in cellular metabolism. Tryptophan is also a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mood regulation, and melatonin, a hormone involved in sleep regulation.
+[[File:Tryptophan_metabolism.svg|thumb|right|Metabolism of tryptophan]]
+==Dietary sources==
+Tryptophan is found in various dietary sources, including [[turkey]], [[chicken]], [[milk]], [[cheese]], [[yogurt]], [[eggs]], [[fish]], and [[nuts]]. It is often associated with the myth that consuming turkey leads to increased sleepiness due to its tryptophan content, although the effect is more likely due to the overall meal composition.
+==Health implications==
+Tryptophan supplementation has been studied for its potential effects on mood disorders, such as [[depression]] and [[anxiety]], due to its role in serotonin production. However, excessive intake of tryptophan supplements can lead to health issues, such as [[eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome]].
+==Related pages==
 * [[Amino acid]]
 * [[Serotonin]]
 * [[Melatonin]]
 * [[Niacin]]
-* [[Protein synthesis]]
+==References==
+{{Reflist}}
 [[Category:Amino acids]]
 [[Category:Essential nutrients]]
-[[Category:Neurotransmitter precursors]]
-{{stub}}