Metabolism of phenylalanine and tyrosine

We classify Phenylalanine and tyrosine among 'aromatic amino acids. The metabolism of phenylalanine and tyrosine are linked directly to each other. The final products of their catabolism are fumarate and acetoacetate.

Reaction

 * Phenylalanine is converted in a reaction catalyzed by PAH (phenylalanine hydroxylase), with the help of O2 and THB (tetrahydrobiopterin) into tyrosine, releasing H2O and DHB (dihydrobiopterin).
 * Tyrosine is converted by tyrosine transaminase to p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate. 2-oxoglutarate enters the reaction and glutamate is released from the reaction.
 * p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate in the presence of oxygen and with ascorbate gives rise to homogentisate. The reaction releases H2O, CO2 and the by-product dehydroascorbate.
 * Homogentisate is cleaved under the influence of O2 in a reaction catalyzed by homogentisate oxygenase and subsequently, in several steps, 'fumarate and acetoacetate are formed''.



Related Articles

 * Disorders of aromatic and branched-chain amino acid metabolism
 * Metabolism of AMK group pyruvate and oxaloacetate
 * Ketones
 * Amino acids

Source

 * ws:Metabolismus fenylalaninu a tyrosinu