Tyrosine is hydroxylated to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) by tyrosine hydroxylase within different tissues. Depending on where DOPA is produced it can be further converted to dopamine and norepinephrine (e.g., brain and nervous tissue) or melanin (i.e., melanocytes); iodinated tyrosine residues on the thyroglobulin also help form triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) molecules<ref>Stipanuk MH and Watford M. Amino acid metabolism. In Biohemical and physiologic aspects of human nutrition. 2000 Philidelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company p. 270-274.</ref>. | Tyrosine is hydroxylated to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) by tyrosine hydroxylase within different tissues. Depending on where DOPA is produced it can be further converted to dopamine and norepinephrine (e.g., brain and nervous tissue) or melanin (i.e., melanocytes); iodinated tyrosine residues on the thyroglobulin also help form triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) molecules<ref>Stipanuk MH and Watford M. Amino acid metabolism. In Biohemical and physiologic aspects of human nutrition. 2000 Philidelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company p. 270-274.</ref>. |