Phenylalanine and Tyrosine - Nutrition

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What are Phenylalanine and Tyrosine?

Phenylalanine and tyrosine are aromatic amino acids each containing a benzene ring side chain. Phenylalanine is converted to tyrosine in both dogs and cats and only phenylalanine is considered an essential amino acid. Tyrosine production accounts for half of the total phenylalanine requirement in the diet[1], and both amino acids are considered together when determining the daily requirement. Phenylalanine is converted directly to tyrosine via phenylalanine hydroxylase in the liver; this is a non-reversible step in phenylalanine degradation. The addition of dietary tyrosine can “spare” phenylalanine reducing the phenylalanine requirement. Phenylalanine and tyrosine are neutral amino acids and are both gluconeogenic and ketogenic. They are absorbed by a neutral amino acid transporter in the small intestine (particularly the jejunum) and are actively reabsorbed in the proximal tubule of the kidney.

Why are they Important?

Phenylalanine and tyrosine are incorporated into structural protein and the presence of the hydrophobic aromatic side-chain will induce a fold in the protein structure. In addition to being required for normal growth, both phenylalanine and tyrosine are further incorporated into key regulatory hormones and compounds. Phosphorylation of tyrosine residues by tyrosine kinase plays a role in cellular replication and signalling and abnormal tyrosine kinase activity has been associated with loss of cellular regulation and development of a number of cancers in dogs[2][3].

Roles in the Body

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 thyroglobulin also help form triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) molecules[4]. Tyrosine is a precursor to melanin in hair. Twice the amount of phenylalanine and tyrosine are required to produce and maintain a normal black hair coat colour than are required for growth in both dogs and cats[5][6][7]. The presence of phenylalanine-containing peptides in the intestinal lumen is a trigger for release of cholecystokinin (CCK)[8][9].

Consequences of Phenylalanine and Tyrosine Deficiency

Dogs:

Puppies fed a phenylalanine deficient diet experience decreased food intake and weight loss[1]. Adults dogs fed inadequate phenylalanine and tyrosine levels in the diet develop a reddening of the haircoat[5].

Cats:

Feeding a phenylalanine deficient diet to kittens results in weight loss, while no change in weight gain is seen when tyrosine is deficient but adequate phenylalanine levels are present[10]. Kittens fed adequate phenylalanine for growth, but suboptimal amounts for melanin production develop reddening of the haircoat[6], which can progress to ataxia, vocalizing, ptylism, hyperactivity, and abnormal tail posture (tail held bent forward) if continued for more than 6 months[7].

Toxicity

There are no studies on either acute or chronic toxicity related to feeding high doses of phenylalanine or tyrosine to dogs and no reports of safe upper limits. Kittens fed purified diets containing phenylalanine and tyrosine 4x the requirement for maintenance of black haircoat showed no adverse effects[11], but when tyrosine level was increased to 8x the requirement for normal black coat colour a decrease in food intake was seen[12].

Dietary Sources

Sufficient phenylalanine is found in plant and animal protein sources, such as muscle meat, eggs, dairy protein (e.g. casein), cereal grains, and pulses (i.e. legumes).

Diagnosing Phenylalanine and Tyrosine Deficiency

Diagnosis of phenylalanine and tyrosine deficiency is based on fasted plasma amino acids and coat colour changes.


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Milner JA. Phenylalanine and tyrosine requirement in immature beagle dogs. J Nutr 1984;114:2212-2216.
  2. ↑ Mariotti ET, et al. Canine pulmonary adenocarcinoma tyrosine kinase receptor expression and phosphorylation. BMC Vet Res 2014:10:19.
  3. ↑ Dickerson EB, et al. Matinib and Dasatinib inhibit hemangiosarcoma and implicate PDGFR-β and Src in tumor growth. Trans Onco 2013;6:158-168.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Biourge V and Sergheraert R. Hair pigmentation can be affected by diet in dogs. Proc Comp Nutr Soc 2002; 4:103-104.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Yu SC, et al. Effect of low levels of dietary tyrosine on the hair colour of cats. J Sm Anim Pra 2001;42:176-180.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Anderson PA, et al. Histidine, phenylalanine-tyrosine and tryptophan requirements for growth of the young kitten. J Anim Sci 1980;50:266-271.
  8. ↑ Koop I and Buchan AM. Cholecystokinin release from isolated canine epithelial cells in short-term culture. Gastroenter 1992;102:28-34.
  9. ↑ Backus RC, et al. The potency of dietary amino acids in elevating plasma cholecystokinin immunoreactivity in cats is related to amino acid hydrophobicity. Regul Pept 1997;72:31-40.
  10. ↑ Rogers QR and Morris JG. Essentiality of amino acids for the growing kitten. J Nutr 1979;109:718-723.
  11. ↑ Taylor TP, et al. Optimizing the pattern of essential amino acids as the sole source of dietary nitrogen supports near maximal growth in kittens. J Nutr 1996;126:2243-2252.
  12. ↑ National Research Council (NRC). Protein and Amino Acids. In Nutrient Requirements for Dogs and Cats. 2006 Washington, DC: National Academies Press p. 129-130.


This article was:
Written by Dr Richard Butterwick, Dr Ivan Burger, Dr Penelope Morris and Dr Lisa Weeth.
Edited by Dr Richard Butterwick and Professor Dan Chan

Date reviewed: 18 May 2015


Endorsed by WALTHAM®, a leading authority in companion animal nutrition and wellbeing for over 50 years and the science institute for Mars Petcare. Waltham logo.jpg


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