TPH2
TPH2 (tryptophan hydroxylase 2, also known as NTPH) is a neuron-specific enzyme that catalyses the rate-limiting step in serotonin production. It converts L-tryptophan into 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan and has a role in regulating mood, anxiety and sleep. Browse Assay Genie's current range of TPH2 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
TPH2 is a neuron-specific enzyme that catalyses the conversion of L-tryptophan into 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan. This is the rate-limiting step in serotonin production. The reaction uses Fe(2+) as a cofactor, with molecular oxygen and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) as cosubstrates. Through its control of serotonin synthesis, the enzyme plays a crucial role in regulating mood, anxiety and sleep.
The TPH2 gene encodes tryptophan 5-hydroxylase 2, a member of the biopterin-dependent aromatic amino acid hydroxylase family, also described as the pterin-dependent aromatic acid hydroxylase family. Serotonin is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter, so the enzyme sits at the entry point of a pathway with wide relevance to neuroscience. The gene is also known by the aliases NTPH and FLJ37295, and orthologous Tph2 genes are present in mouse and rat, which supports comparative work in rodent models.
According to the NCBI Gene summary, mutations in the TPH2 gene may be associated with psychiatric diseases such as bipolar affective disorder and major depression. This makes the protein a common subject in studies of serotonergic signalling and mood regulation. A related enzyme, TPH1, is encoded by a separate gene in the same family, and researchers often consider the two together when studying serotonin biosynthesis.
TPH2 catalyses the rate-limiting step in serotonin production, making it a central enzyme for studying how serotonin synthesis is controlled.
The enzyme plays a crucial role in regulating mood and anxiety, so it is a frequent focus in neurobiological studies of these behaviours.
TPH2 contributes to the regulation of sleep through serotonin production in neurons, linking enzyme activity to sleep biology.
Mutations in the TPH2 gene may be associated with bipolar affective disorder and major depression, prompting genetic and mechanistic investigation.
TPH2 is a neuron-specific enzyme that converts L-tryptophan into 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, the rate-limiting step in serotonin production. It uses Fe(2+) as a cofactor, with molecular oxygen and tetrahydrobiopterin as cosubstrates, and helps regulate mood, anxiety and sleep.
The HGNC name is tryptophan hydroxylase 2, and UniProt lists the protein as tryptophan 5-hydroxylase 2. Aliases include NTPH and FLJ37295. The enzyme is classified as EC 1.14.16.4 and belongs to the aromatic amino acid hydroxylase family.
Mouse and rat both have a Tph2 ortholog. NCBI Gene reports that mutations in the human gene may be associated with psychiatric diseases such as bipolar affective disorder and major depression. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other tryptophan hydroxylase and serotonin-pathway targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q8IWU9; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.