April 14, 2014

Amino acids of phenylalanine and tyrosine

Phenylalanine and tyrosine are used by the body to make the hormones adrenaline and thyroxine.

They are also involved in the formation of melanin, a pigment present in the skin, hair and part of the eye. 

Phenylalanine and tyrosine share a common path way of degradation, which occurs in liver, and ultimately yields fumarate and (acetyl CoA). The pathway starts with oxidation of phenylalanine to tyrosine. Tyrosine is an essential amino acid, but tyrosine is not.

About two thirds of the phenylalanine consumed is converted to tyrosine by this reaction, the rest is incorporated into protein.

A mutation that prevents the conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine results in a genetic disorder called phenylketonuria.

The adult minimum requirement for phenylalanine and tyrosine is 14 mg/kg body weight and an absolute minimum is 1.10 g.
Amino acids of phenylalanine and tyrosine

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