phenylalanine
Protein building block
Phenylalanine is an amino acid essential to human nutrition, obtained through diet since the body cannot synthesize it.
It appears on food labels because people with phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot metabolize it safely: Contains phenylalanine.
The artificial sweetener aspartame breaks down into phenylalanine, requiring such warnings on diet sodas and sugar-free products.
Protein-building amino acid
- PKUInherited amino acid disorder
- catabolismMetabolic molecular dismantling
- transaminationAmino group biochemical exchange
- deaminationAmino group removal process
tetrahydrobiopterin · melanin · dopamine · norepinephrine · epinephrine · neurotransmitter
Folded amino chain
- essentialFundamentally necessary
- dietaryOf food consumption
- aspartameArtificial low-calorie sweetener
- NutraSweetBranded artificial sweetener
supplement · meat · fish · eggs · dairy · soy · tofu · legumes
Plant cell organelle
- plantsPhotosynthesizing rooted organisms
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- precursorSomething that comes first
tryptophan · tyrosine · enzyme · synthesis
One that transports
- genotypeOrganism's complete allele set
- alleleGene variant at one locus
- inheritedReceived from forebears
- heterozygoteOrganism with differing alleles
Pleasantly strong-smelling
- benzylCH₂ bonded to phenyl
- hydrophobicRepels aqueous substances
- chiralityMirror-image non-superimposability
- aromaticityCyclic pi-electron stabilization
tyrosine
Protein-building amino acid
- PKUInherited amino acid disorder
- catabolismMetabolic molecular dismantling
- transaminationAmino group biochemical exchange
tetrahydrobiopterin · deamination · melanin · dopamine · norepinephrine · epinephrine · neurotransmitter
protein
Folded amino chain
NutraSweet · supplement · meat · fish · eggs · dairy · soy · tofu · legumes · nuts
plastid
Plant cell organelle
- plantsPhotosynthesizing rooted organisms
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
precursor · tryptophan · tyrosine · enzyme · synthesis
carrier
One that transports
aromatic
Pleasantly strong-smelling
- benzylCH₂ bonded to phenyl
- hydrophobicRepels aqueous substances
- chiralityMirror-image non-superimposability
aromaticity · residue · carboxyl · amine · nonpolar
- amino acidsalanine, arginine, asparagine, cysteine, glutamine
- Essential Amino Acidsleucine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, methionine
- chiral moleculesalanine, arginine, asparagine, cysteine, glutamine
- Dopamine Precursorslevodopa, tyrosine, tetrahydrobiopterin
- Neurotransmitter Precursorstryptophan, tyrosine, choline, glutamate, glutamine
- aromaticsperfume, incense, cologne, essential oils, essential oil