Question

Animals cannot synthesize tyrosine from shikimate-3P because they lack EPSP synthase. However, tyrosine is listed as a non-essential amino acid in most tables. What is the explanation?

Answer 1

Tyrosine is listed as a non-essential amino acid because it can be synthesised from the essential amino acid phenylalanine.

Explanation:

Amino acids are classified as essential and non essential according to whether they can be synthesized in the body itself or should be supplied by the diet. Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized in the body of the organism and thus can be obtained only from the diet. In the case of human beings, valine, phenylalanine, methionine etc are examples of essential amino acids.

Non essential amino acids can be synthesized within the body of the organism. Thus they need not be supplied by the diet. Alanine, aspartic acid etc are some of the non essential amino acids in human beings. It is given here that animals cannot synthesize tyrosine from shikimate-3p due to the lack of EPSP synthase.

But the amino acid tyrosine can be synthesized from the amino acid phenylalanine which is an essential amino acid. Thus tyrosine will be a non-essential amino acid.