# Difference Between L-Tyrosine and Tyrosine - Author: **Admin** - Document Tags: [[tyrosine]] - [URL link](https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-l-tyrosine-and-vs-tyrosine/)  ## Highlights - Tyrosine is a **[non-essential amino acid](https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-essential-and-vs-nonessential-amino-acids/),** which is synthesized in our body from an amino acid called phenylalanine. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmpptnmpwcc1h0f9arwye96d)) --- - It acts as a building block for the synthesis of several important neurotransmitters also known as brain chemicals such as [epinephrine, norepinephrine](https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-epinephrine-and-norepinephrine/), and [dopamine](https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-dopamine-and-vs-serotonin/) ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmppy22k685r1rvks2h0v7wz)) --- - In addition, tyrosine is essential to producing melanin pigment, which is responsible for human skin hue. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmppy9avhgp5sfs6v0gn11tr)) --- - Moreover, tyrosine also helps in the functions of adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary glands for production and regulating their hormones. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmppycpt7c8ykgq02xtz1d8a)) --- - L- tyrosine and D- tyrosine are enantiomers of each other and have identical physical characteristics, apart from the direction in which they rotate polarized light. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmpq10ehchcqen3h5g7txhk3)) --- - These, l- and d- forms of tyrosine are known as optical isomers ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmpq0fn65vn39d9ybs4zsn0g)) --- - Tyrosine and l- tyrosine have identical physical properties, but they rotate plane polarized light in different direction. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmpq17nrx4zr6ap6b80rmmvt)) --- - As a result, l- tyrosine may have substantially different biological effects and functional properties. However, very limited research has been done in order to distinguish these biological effects and functional properties. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmpq1e2tmpzhthjg5dh13whg)) --- - The d-forms of amino acids observed experimentally were found to occur very rarely. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hmpq1zw30wevmx1f2mhhxsy0)) ---