Question:easy
Serotonin is also known as?
Serotonin is also known as?
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It is the indole amine made from tryptophan, hydroxylated at position 5.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)
- N-methyl phenylamine
- 3-Methoxytyramine
- Phenethylamine
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The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Start from the precursor. Serotonin is built from tryptophan, an indole-containing amino acid, by adding a hydroxyl group and removing the carboxyl group.
Step 2: The added hydroxyl sits on carbon 5 of the indole ring and the remaining backbone is an amine, so the systematic name reads $5\text{-hydroxytryptamine}$, conventionally shortened to $5\text{-HT}$.
Step 3: The decoys come from the catecholamine and phenethylamine families. $3\text{-methoxytyramine}$ is a breakdown product of dopamine, and phenethylamine and N-methyl phenylamine are trace amines, so none matches serotonin's indole structure.
\[\boxed{\text{5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)}}\]
Step 2: The added hydroxyl sits on carbon 5 of the indole ring and the remaining backbone is an amine, so the systematic name reads $5\text{-hydroxytryptamine}$, conventionally shortened to $5\text{-HT}$.
Step 3: The decoys come from the catecholamine and phenethylamine families. $3\text{-methoxytyramine}$ is a breakdown product of dopamine, and phenethylamine and N-methyl phenylamine are trace amines, so none matches serotonin's indole structure.
\[\boxed{\text{5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)}}\]
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