an enzyme which catalyzes the initial step in the biosynthesis of serotonin. It utilizes tetrahydrobiopterin as a component enzyme to modify the dietary amino acid i-tryptophan to 5-hydroxytryptophan. This response is the rate-restricting step in serotonin synthesis, inhibited by amounts of tryptophan within the brain in addition to by amount of activity of neurons which utilize serotonin as a neurotransmitter.
TRYPTOPHAN HYDROXYLASE: "Tryptophan hydroxylase levels are far below what the physician would like."
Cite this page: N., Pam M.S., "TRYPTOPHAN HYDROXYLASE," in PsychologyDictionary.org, April 29, 2013, https://psychologydictionary.org/tryptophan-hydroxylase/ (accessed December 12, 2019).
