The pathways of the metabolism of phenylalaline begins with the conversion of chorismate to prephenate through a P-protein (chorismate mutase:pheA). Prephenate then interacts with a hydrogen ion through the same previous enzyme resulting in a release of carbon dioxide, water and a phenolpyruvic acid. Three enzymes those enconde by tyrB, aspC and ilvE are involved in catalyzing the third step of these pathways, all three can contribute to the synthesis of phenylalanine: only tyrB and aspC contribute to biosynthesis of tyrosine. Phenolpyruvic acid can also be obtained from a reversivle reaction with ammonia, a reduced acceptor and a D-amino acid dehydrogenase, resulting in a water, an acceptor and a D-phenylalanine, which can be then transported into the periplasmic space by aromatic amino acid exporter. L-phenylalanine also interacts in two reversible reactions, one involved with oxygen through a catalase peroxidase resulting in a carbon dioxide and 2-phenylacetamide. The other reaction involved an interaction with oxygen through a phenylalanine aminotransferase resulting in a oxoglutaric acid and phenylpyruvic acid. L-phenylalanine can be imported into the cytoplasm through an aromatic amino acid:H+ symporter AroP. The compound can also be imported into the periplasmic space through a transporter: L-amino acid efflux transporter.

Phenylalanine Metabolism References