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Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is an enzyme (EC 1.14.16.4) involved in the synthesis of the monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin. Tyrosine hydroxylase , phenylalanine hydroxylase , and tryptophan hydroxylase together constitute the family of biopterin-dependent aromatic amino acid hydroxylases .
αMTP and αMS remain in the body for long amounts of time following a single dose of αMTP, whereas tryptophan results in only a short-lasting increase in brain serotonin levels. [1] [5] This is attributed to the resistance to metabolism of these compounds afforded by their α-methyl group. [1]
Tryptophan ball and stick model spinning. Tryptophan (symbol Trp or W) [3] is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins.Tryptophan contains an α-amino group, an α-carboxylic acid group, and a side chain indole, making it a polar molecule with a non-polar aromatic beta carbon substituent.
L-Tryptophan to tryptamine – a trace amine neuromodulator; 5-HTP to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) – a neurotransmitter; However, some of these reactions do not seem to bear much or any biological significance. For example, histamine is biosynthesised strictly via the enzyme histidine decarboxylase in humans and other organisms. [10] [11]
“Tryptophan can become serotonin — the brain chemical that calms, causes sleep, among other things — if the right enzymes are around to do so,” she notes.
Serotonin and tryptophan have been found in chocolate with varying cocoa contents. The highest serotonin content (2.93 μg/g) was found in chocolate with 85% cocoa, and the highest tryptophan content (13.27–13.34 μg/g) was found in 70–85% cocoa. The intermediate in the synthesis from tryptophan to serotonin, 5-hydroxytryptophan, was not found.
5-HTP is produced from the amino acid tryptophan through the action of the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase. Tryptophan hydroxylase is one of the biopterin-dependent aromatic amino acid hydroxylases. Production of 5-HTP is the rate-limiting step in 5-HT (serotonin) synthesis. 5-HTP is normally rapidly converted to 5-HT by amino acid decarboxylase. [1]
TPH1 was first discovered to support serotonin synthesis in 1988 by converting tryptophan into 5-hydroxytryptophan. [6] It was thought that there only was a single TPH gene until 2003. A second form was found in the mouse ( Tph2 ), rat and human brain ( TPH2 ) and the original TPH was then renamed to TPH1.