The concentration of tryptamine in rat brains is about 3.5 pmol/g.[4]
Plants containing tryptamine
Many plants contain small amounts of tryptamine. It is a feedstock for the metabolic pathways which influence plant growth and microbiome. For example, it is found as a possible intermediate in one biosynthetic pathway to the plant hormone indole-3-acetic acid.[5] Higher concentrations can be found in many Acacia species.
Tryptamine has been shown to act as a noncompetitive inhibitor of serotonin N-acetyltransferase (SNAT) in mosquitoes.[9] SNAT catalyzes the anabolic metabolism of serotonin into N-acetylserotonin, another neuromodulator (specifically a neurotrophic factor via TrkB agonism) and the immediate precursor for melatonin.
^Jones R.S. (1982). "Tryptamine: a neuromodulator or neurotransmitter in mammalian brain?". Progress in Neurobiology. 19 (1–2): 117–139. doi:10.1016/0301-0082(82)90023-5.
^ abKhan MZ, Nawaz W (October 2016). "The emerging roles of human trace amines and human trace amine-associated receptors (hTAARs) in central nervous system". Biomed. Pharmacother. 83: 439–449. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2016.07.002. PMID27424325.
^Jiang, Zhen; Mutch, Elaine; Blain, Peter G.; Williams, Faith M. (2006). "Conversion of trichloroethylene to chloral using occupationally relevant levels". Toxicology. 226 (1): 76–77. doi:10.1016/j.tox.2006.05.102.
^Wölfel, Reinhard; Graefe, Karl-Heinz (1992). "Evidence for various tryptamines and related compounds acting as substrates of the platelet 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter". Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology. 345 (2): 129–36. doi:10.1007/BF00165727. PMID1570019.
^Shimazu, S; Miklya, I (2004). "Pharmacological studies with endogenous enhancer substances: Beta-phenylethylamine, tryptamine, and their synthetic derivatives". Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry. 28 (3): 421–7. doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2003.11.016. PMID15093948.
^Khoo HG, Wong KP (1994). "Acetyl CoA generation and N-acetylation of serotonin (5HT) in the mosquito, Aedes togoi". Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. 24 (5): 445–51. doi:10.1016/0965-1748(94)90039-6. PMID7911372.
^Sullivan, James P.; McDonnell, Leonard; Hardiman, Orla M.; Farrell, Michael A.; Phillips, Jack P.; Tipton, Keith F. (1986). "The oxidation of tryptamine by the two forms of monoamine oxidase in human tissues". Biochemical Pharmacology. 35 (19): 3255–60. doi:10.1016/0006-2952(86)90421-1. PMID3094536.
^Abramovitch, R. A.; Shapiro, D. (1956). "880. Tryptamines, carbolines, and related compounds. Part II. A convenient synthesis of tryptamines and β-carbolines". Journal of the Chemical Society: 4589–92. doi:10.1039/JR9560004589.
† References for all endogenous human TAAR1 ligands are provided at List of trace amines
‡ References for synthetic TAAR1 agonists can be found at TAAR1 or in the associated compound articles. For TAAR2 and TAAR5 agonists and inverse agonists, see TAAR for references.