Information on Alanine Nonpolar Amino Acids (hydrophobic) - Alanine Non Essential Amino Acid

Alanine is a hydrophobic molecule. Alanine is a non-essential amino acid that the body manufactures in the liver. It is a major component of connective tissue. Alanine plays a role in substrate recognition or specificity, particularly in interactions with other non-reactive atoms such as carbon.

Alanine Benefits and Uses

• Is an important source of energy for muscle tissue, the brain and central nervous system
• Alanine strengthens the immune system by producing antibodies
• it helps in the metabolism of sugars and organic acids.

Alanine Food Sources

Any protein containing food such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products are rich in alanine.

Structure of Alanine Amino Acid

Note that alanine is the a-amino acid analog of the a-keto acid pyruvate, an intermediate in sugar metabolism. The a-carbon atom of alanine is bound with a methyl group (-CH 3 ), making it one of the simplest a-amino acids with respect to molecular structure and also resulting in alanine being classified as an aliphatic amino acid. Alanine and pyruvate are interchangeable by a transamination reaction.