tyrosine
Melanin precursor molecule
Tyrosine is an amino acid that the body uses to produce proteins, neurotransmitters, and melanin.
It's classified as conditionally essential—the body can synthesize it from phenylalanine, but dietary sources become important under stress or illness.
Tyrosine supplements are marketed for cognitive enhancement, though evidence remains mixed: taking tyrosine before a stressful exam.
Essential protein component
- amino acidProtein's molecular subunit
- proteinFolded amino chain
- peptideShort amino acid chain
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
catecholamines · melanin · thyroid hormones · neurotransmitter · precursor · biosynthesis · phosphorylation · kinase
Essential protein component
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
- norepinephrineAlertness and stress hormone
- epinephrineAdrenal stress hormone
- melaninNatural coloring compound
thyroxine · catabolism · albinism · degradation · conversion
phenylalanine
Essential protein component
- amino acidProtein's molecular subunit
- proteinFolded amino chain
- peptideShort amino acid chain
dopamine · catecholamines · melanin · thyroid hormones · neurotransmitter · precursor · biosynthesis · phosphorylation · kinase · substrate
phenylalanine
Essential protein component
- dopamineReward-linked neural messenger
- norepinephrineAlertness and stress hormone
- epinephrineAdrenal stress hormone
melanin · thyroxine · catabolism · albinism · degradation · conversion
supplement
Something added to complete
- dietaryOf food consumption
- protein sourcesFoods supplying amino acids
- cheeseFermented milk solid
soy · meat · fish · eggs · nuts · seeds · tofu · dairy · legumes · poultry
- amino acidsalanine, arginine, asparagine, cysteine, glutamine
- pigmentationmelanin, eumelanin, melanocytes, skin color, pigment
- energy supplementscaffeine, taurine, guarana, B vitamins, ginseng
- chiral moleculesalanine, arginine, asparagine, cysteine, glutamine
- dopaminedopamine, dopamine receptors, dopamine release, D2 receptor, DAT
- Dopamine Precursorslevodopa, phenylalanine, tetrahydrobiopterin
tyrosineessential amino acid
Protein component requiring ingestion
lysine · tryptophan · leucine · phenylalanine · isoleucine
- tyrosine kinasePhosphotransferase for proteins