Question

L-thyroxine, a thyroid hormone and oral medication used to treat thyroid hormone deficiency, is an amino acid that does not exist in proteins. Draw the zwitterionic form of L-thyroxine.

Short answer

L-thyroxine is also named levothyroxine. It is used for curing thyroid hormone deficiency called hypothyroidism.It can be consumed via the mouth or by intravenous injection.

Step-by-step solution

L-thyroxine

L-thyroxine is also named levothyroxine. It is used for curing thyroid hormone deficiency called hypothyroidism.It can be consumed via the mouth or by intravenous injection.

Zwitter ions

Zwitter ions constitute ions possessing equivalent positive and negative ions. The formal charge of these ions is zero as they are electrically neutral.These compounds comprise quaternary ammonium cations.

Zwitterionic form of L-thyroxine

The structure of L-thyroxine can be given as:

Structure of L-thyroxine

The zwitterion in L-thyroxine is created by the shift of proton from the carboxyl group to the amino group in order to sustain neutrality. The structure of the zwitterion form of L-thyroxine can be given as: