The Availability of Tryptophane Derivatives for Supplementing Diets Deficient in Tryptophane

The utilization of tryptophane for growth in the rat can be effectively prevented by benzoylation, but not by acetylation or by esterification with ethyl alcohol. For the purpose of extending these observations, the phenylacetyl, phenylpropionyl, and propionyl derivatives of tryptophane, as well as the phenyl and benzyl ester hydrochlorides, were prepared and fed as supplements in a diet deficient in tryptophane. Of these derivatives, only phenylacetyltryptophane failed to produce growth. Presumably all of the others undergo enzymatic cleavage and hence can be utilized as well as free tryptophane for purposes of growth