Question

Aspartame is a methyl ester of the dipeptide of _____.

• A. Proline and valine
• B. Histidine and proline
• C. Aspartic acid and phenylalanine
• D. Arginine and tryptophan

Hint:

Remember: Aspartame = Aspartate + Phenylalanine + Methyl Ester.
It is heat-labile, meaning it degrades at high cooking or baking temperatures, losing its sweetness.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Aspartame is an artificial, non-saccharide sweetener widely used in low-calorie foods and carboted beverages.
It is approximately \(200\) times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar).

Step 2: Detailed Explation:
Chemically, aspartame is the methyl ester of a dipeptide composed of two turally occurring amino acids: L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine.
Its systematic IUPAC me is methyl L-\(\alpha\)-aspartyl-L-phenylalanite.
When consumed, aspartame is completely hydrolyzed in the gastrointestil tract into its primary components:
• Aspartic acid (an amino acid)
• Phenylalanine (an essential amino acid)
• Methanol (in small quantities) Because it releases phenylalanine upon digestion, products containing aspartame must carry a warning label for individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU), a genetic disorder where the body cannot metabolize phenylalanine.

Step 3: Fil Answer:
The correct option is (C).