What is tryptophan?
Q: What is tryptophan?
A: Tryptophan is an α-amino acid used in the biosynthesis of proteins, and it has a side chain indole, which makes it a non-polar aromatic amino acid.
Q: How is tryptophan encoded?
A: Tryptophan is encoded by the codon UGG.
Q: What are the biological conditions for tryptophan?
A: Under biological conditions, tryptophan has an α-amino group (which is in the –NH3+ form) and an α-carboxylic acid group (which is in the deprotonated –COO− form).
Q: Why is tryptophan essential to humans?
A: Tryptophan is essential to humans because the body cannot synthesize it, so it must be obtained from the diet.
Q: What are the neurotransmitters that tryptophan is a precursor to?
A: Tryptophan is a precursor to the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin.
Q: What type of amino acid is tryptophan and why?
A: Tryptophan is a non-polar aromatic amino acid because it has a side chain indole.
Q: How is tryptophan used in the biosynthesis of proteins?
A: Tryptophan is used by the body in the biosynthesis of proteins. It is incorporated into proteins during translation where it can form hydrogen bonds and participate in pi-stacking interactions in proteins.
