Tryptophan is the precursor for 5-hydroxy-tryptamin and an essential α-amino acid. DL-Tryptophan exists as a zwitterion during crystallization.
N-Acetyl-DL-tryptophan is produced via chemical synthesis using the standard amino acid, tryptophan. It can be used in downstream applications of biopharmaceutical production as a transfer agent or stabilizer.
N-acetyl-DL-tryptophan, is used as stabilizer in the human blood-derived therapeutic products normal serum albumin and plasma protein fraction.
N-Acetyltryptophan has also been used as a protein stabilizer. It prevents protein molecules from oxidative degradation by scavenging oxygen dissolved in protein solutions (PMID: 21903216 ). N-Acetyltryptophan has been identified as a catabolite of tryptophan generated by the gut microbiota.