Accession NumberHMDB00929
Common_NameL-Tryptophan
DescriptionTryptophan is an essential amino acid which is the precursor of serotonin. Serotonin is a brain neurotransmitter, platelet clotting factor and neurohormone found in organs throughout the body. Metabolism of tryptophan to serotonin requires nutrients such as vitamin B6, niacin and glutathione. Niacin is an important metabolite of tryptophan. High corn or other tryptophan-deficient diets can cause pellagra, which is a niacin-tryptophan deficiency disease with symptoms of dermatitis, diarrhea and dementia. Inborn errors of tryptophan metabolism exist where a tumor (carcinoid) makes excess serotonin. Hartnup's disease is a disease where tryptophan and other amino acids are not absorbed properly. Tryptophan supplements may be useful in each condition, in carcinoid replacing the over-metabolized nutrient and in Hartnup's supplementing a malabsorbed nutrient. Some disorders of excess tryptophan in the blood may contribute to mental retardation. Assessment of tryptophan deficiency is done through studying excretion of tryptophan metabolites in the urine or blood. Blood may be the most sensitive test because the amino acid tryptophan is transported in a unique way. Increased urination of tryptophan fragments correlates with increased tryptophan degradation, which occurs with oral contraception, depression, mental retardation, hypertension and anxiety states. The requirement for tryptophan and protein decreases with age. Adults' minimum daily requirement is 3 mg/kg/day or about 200 mg a day. This may be an underestimation, for there are 400 mg of tryptophan in just a cup of wheat germ. A cup of low fat cottage cheese contains 300 mg of tryptophan and chicken and turkey contain up to 600 mg per pound. (http://www.dcnutrition.com)
Chemical_IUPAC_Name(2S)-2-amino-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)propanoic acid
Chemical FormulaC11H12N2O2
Sample ConcentrationNot Available
Mass Value1
Mass Unitmg
ManufacturerQuattro_QQQ
AnalyzerTriple_Quad
DeliveryFlow_Injection
IonizationPositive
Predicted 1H NMR SpectrumDownload
Predicted 1H NMR PeaklistDownload
Predicted 13C NMR SpectrumDownload
Predicted 13C NMR PeaklistDownload
Sample ConcentrationNot Available
Mass ValueNot Available
Mass UnitNot Available
ManufacturerNot Available
FrequencyNot Available
1H NMR SpectrumNot Available
Sample ConcentrationNot Available
Mass ValueNot Available
Mass UnitNot Available
ManufacturerNot Available
FrequencyNot Available
13C NMR Spectrum
Low Energy Voltage10
Low Energy SpectrumDownload
Low Energy PeaklistDownload
Medium Energy SpectrumDownload
High Energy SpectrumDownload