Aromatic amino acids are amino acids that include an aromatic ring.
Examples include:
Phenylalanine, histidine, and tryptophan are essential amino acids. Since they are not synthesized in the human body, they must be derived from the diet. Tyrosine is semi-essential; it can be synthesized, but only from phenylalanine. A lack of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase used in tyrosine synthesis causes phenylketonuria.
Many plants and microorganisms synthesize aromatic amino acids. Many herbicides inhibit aromatic acid synthesis, which is why they can be toxic to pets and humans.
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