Tryptophan

Type: Essential Amino Acid
Name: Tryptophan
RDA: 5 mg/kg body weight/day of Tryptophan for adults 19 years and over
Importance – to Body:
Tryptophan helps to regulate sleep and appetite. Tryptophan is required for the production of niacin (vitamin B3). It is made from animals or plants so it must be obtained from diet because we cannot synthesize it ourselves.
Distribution – in Body:
When the body absorbs tryptophan it is then changed into serotonin in our bodies, and the amount of serotonin in our bodies is what plays a crucial part of our mood.
Excess Effects:
Side effects of tryptophan are drowsiness, headaches, and dizziness which occurs seldom.
Deficiency Effects:
Emotional imbalances (i.e. anxiety, depression, insomnia) through reduced serotonin levels and lack of tryptophan.
Food Sources:
Chocolate, Oats, Dried Dates, Milk, Yogurt, Red Meat, Eggs, Fish, Poultry, Chickpeas, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Buckwheat, Spirulina, Peanuts, Sesame, Quinoa, Cheese.
Environmental/Geographic Sources:
Supplemental information:
It is important to take tryptophan supplements or foods rich to make up for imbalances in the brain. Tryptophan is in most protein based foods or dietary proteins.

Tryptophan (Wikipedia)

"Tryptan" redirects here. For the type of anti-migraine drug, see Triptan. For the hydrocarbon, see Triptane.

L-Tryptophan

Names
IUPAC name Tryptophan or (2S)-2-amino-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)propanoic acid
Other names 2-Amino-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)propanoic acid
Identifiers
CAS Number	73-22-3 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:16828
ChEMBL	ChEMBL54976 Y
ChemSpider	6066 Y
DrugBank	DB00150 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.000.723
IUPHAR/BPS	717
KEGG	D00020 Y
PubChem CID	6305
UNII	8DUH1N11BX Y
InChI InChI=1S/C11H12N2O2/c12-9(11(14)15)5-7-6-13-10-4-2-1-3-8(7)10/h1-4,6,9,13H,5,12H2,(H,14,15)/t9-/m0/s1 Y Key: QIVBCDIJIAJPQS-VIFPVBQESA-N Y InChI=1/C11H12N2O2/c12-9(11(14)15)5-7-6-13-10-4-2-1-3-8(7)10/h1-4,6,9,13H,5,12H2,(H,14,15)/t9-/m0/s1 Key: QIVBCDIJIAJPQS-VIFPVBQEBP
SMILES c1ccc2c(c1)c(c[nH]2)C[C@@H](C(=O)O)N
Properties
Chemical formula	C11H12N2O2
Molar mass	204.23 g·mol−1
Solubility in water	Soluble: 0.23 g/L at 0 °C, 11.4 g/L at 25 °C, 17.1 g/L at 50 °C, 27.95 g/L at 75 °C
Solubility	Soluble in hot alcohol, alkali hydroxides; insoluble in chloroform.
Acidity (pKa)	2.38 (carboxyl), 9.39 (amino)
Magnetic susceptibility (χ)	-132.0·10−6 cm3/mol
Pharmacology
ATC code	N06AX02 (WHO)
Supplementary data page
Structure and properties	Refractive index (n), Dielectric constant (εr), etc.
Thermodynamic data	Phase behaviour solid–liquid–gas
Spectral data	UV, IR, NMR, MS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Tryptophan (symbol Trp or W) is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. It contains an α-amino group, an α-carboxylic acid group, and a side chain indole, making it a non-polar aromatic amino acid. It is essential in humans, meaning the body cannot synthesize it: it must be obtained from the diet. Tryptophan is also a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone melatonin. It is encoded by the codon UGG.

Like other amino acids, tryptophan is a zwitterion at physiological pH where the amino group is protonated (–NH₃⁺; pK_a = 9.39) and the carboxylic acid is deprotonated ( –COO⁻; pK_a = 2.38).