Focus on the Tryptophan Pathway
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 36
Special Issue Editor
Interests: aging; amino acids; antioxidants; inflammaging; melatonin; product development; tryptophan
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Tryptophan is a rate-limiting essential amino acid and a unique building block of peptides and proteins. This amino acid serves as the precursor for important endogenous indoleamines such as serotonin, N-acetylserotonin, and melatonin, which act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and neurohormones. The enhanced synthesis of these potent endogenous signaling molecules can improve health, quality of life, and well-being. A tryptophan-enriched diet may be considered a component of the treatment of elderly individuals to improve cognition, mood, and health. The main metabolic pathway of tryptophan is the oxidation to bioactive kynurenines and niacin. Kynurenic acid is the most potent endogenous anti-exitotoxic agent. Other highly relevant pathways of tryptophan are the reversible transamination to indole-3-pyruvate with the formation of related indolic acids and amides, as well as the synthesis of indole compounds and their derivatives through side chain cleavage. Indolic acids and amides, such as indole-3-propionic acid and indole-3-propionamide, act as potent protective antioxidant agents, whereas indoles such as indole, indoxyl, and indoxyl sulfate are reactive compounds that are primarily studied because of their potential toxicity.
Dr. Burkhard Poeggeler
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- aging
- indole-3-propionic acid
- kynurenic acid
- melatonin
- serotonin
- tryptophan
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