A 33-year-old woman presents to the clinic for her regular yearly physical examination. She has a long history of depression and takes fluoxetine regularly for two years.
Which amino acid is the precursor of the neurotransmitter affected by this drug?
A- Glycine
B- Glutamate
C- Methionine
D- Phenylalanine
E- Tryptophan
Answer
Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
Tryptophan is converted to serotonin by tryptophan hydroxylase.
The correct answer is E