Alanine
Alanine (abbreviated as Ala or A; encoded by the codons GCU, GCC, GCA, and GCG) is an ɑ-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. It contains an α-amino group (which is in the protonated -+NH3 form under biological conditions), an α-carboxylic acid group (which is in the deprotonated –COO- form under biological conditions), and a side chain methyl group, classifying it as a nonpolar (at physiological pH), aliphatic amino acid. It is non-essential in humans, meaning the body can synthesize it.
The L-isomer (left-handed) of alanine is one of the 20 amino acids encoded by the human genetic code. L-Alanine is second only to leucine in rate of occurrence, accounting for 7.8% of the primary structure in a sample of 1,150 proteins. The right-handed form, D-Alanine occurs in bacterial cell walls and in some peptide antibiotics.
History and etymology
Alanine was first isolated in 1879 by Adolph Strecker. The name alanine was coined in German as Alanine from aldehyde (with the suffix -an for ease of pronunciation).
Podcasts:
Alone
by: WeenWhen the life inside no doubt has died.
And you've turn your head away.
You tried to pay, but at the end of the day, it 's you again, alone.
Alone, confined. The mess in your mind.
When you can't relate to them.
You've reaped and sown, but little is known by those who aren't alone.
Why should a man learn not again what he has learned before?
He's overcome but must succumb to what he's living for.
He tried and tried. All those survived. He missed. He's fallen short.