Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is a hormone and neurotransmitter that
is synthesized in the body from the amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine is a
non-essential amino acid, which means that it can be synthesized in the body
from phenylalanine, another essential amino acid. The synthesis of epinephrine
occurs in two main steps:
1. Hydroxylation of tyrosine: Tyrosine is converted into dihydroxyphenylalanine
(DOPA) by the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase. This is the rate-limiting step in the
synthesis of epinephrine.
2. Decarboxylation and further hydroxylation: DOPA is then decarboxylated to
form dopamine, which is further hydroxylated to produce norepinephrine.
Norepinephrine is the immediate precursor of epinephrine.
3. Formation of epinephrine: Norepinephrine is methylated by the enzyme
phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) and converted into epinephrine.
The other amino acids listed are not directly involved in the synthesis of
epinephrine:
1. Valine and Leucine are branched-chain amino acids that are primarily involved
in the metabolism of muscles and energy production.
2. Cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that is important for the
synthesis of proteins with disulfide bridges and is a precursor for other
molecules like glutathione and taurine, but not directly involved in the
synthesis of epinephrine.
