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O
L-Tr yptophan
OH
NH
2
HN
O
2
, Tetrahydro-
biopterin
L-Tryptophan-5-monooxygenase
Tryptophan Hydroxylase (THP)
Hydroxytetra-
hydrobiopterin
HO
O
5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP)
OH
NH
2
HN
Pyridoxal
Phosphate
5-Hydroxytryptophan Decarboxylase
Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase
HO
Serotonin (5-HT)
NH
2
HN
O
2
, H
2
O
Monoamine Oxidase (MAO).
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase
NH
3
, H
2
O
2
HO
OH
5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (5-HIAA)
O
HN
FIGURE 7.12
The pathway showing the pathway to serotonin from tryptophan using enzymes
and cofactors.
7.3 ALKALOIDS
Naturally occurring alkaloids all contain at least one basic nitrogen atom and usually
this atom is located in a cyclic ring system. Alkaloid compounds were among the
first natural products to be isolated. Two striking examples include strychnine and
morphine (described in detail in Chapter 8) and both compounds originate from plant
sources. Strychnine is an indole alkaloid (Figure 7.13) and is highly toxic. It has been
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