The conversion of tryptophan to 5-hydroxytryptophan in the serotonin synthesis pathway is analogous to the conversion of _________ to _________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The conversion of tryptophan to 5-hydroxytryptophan in the serotonin pathway is catalyzed by the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase, which adds a hydroxyl group to the indole ring of tryptophan. This is analogous to the conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine in the catecholamine synthesis pathway, which is also catalyzed by a hydroxylase enzyme (phenylalanine hydroxylase) that adds a hydroxyl group to the phenyl ring of phenylalanine. The other choices (glycine/serine, tyrosine/thyroxine, and Dopa/dopaquinone) are not directly related to the serotonin or catecholamine synthesis pathways.

The Conversion of Tryptophan to 5-Hydroxytryptophan in the Serotonin Synthesis