Phenylalanine (Phenylalanine, abbreviated Phe or F), is a twenty common amino acids, of the formula: C6H5CH2CH (NH2) COOH, as a powdered solid at room temperature. It is an essential amino acid, because the benzene ring at one end of the molecule is hydrophobic, so that phenylalanine is classified as non-polar molecules. L- phenylalanine (LPA) as an electrically neutral amino acid, "UUU" and "UUC" It is a synthetic codon. Phenylalanine to tyrosine, monoamine signaling molecule dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, as well as precursors of skin pigment melanin. Phenylalanine is naturally found in the mammalian milk. It is used in the manufacture of food and beverage products, and as famous for its analgesic and antidepressant effects of nutritional supplements sold. It is a neuromodulator direct precursor of phenylethylamine, a common dietary supplement. The body can not be synthesized phenylalanine, must intake from the diet, usually generated by the plant phenylalanine. L- phenylalanine may be converted into another DNA encoding amino acid L- tyrosine. After L- tyrosine is converted to L- dopa, L-DOPA will then be converted to dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine, three kinds of substances which belong to catecholamines.
Phenylalanine and tryptophan use the same active transport channels to pass through the blood brain barrier and prevents the generation of serotonin in the case of large doses.
Phenylalanine system named "2-amino-phenylpropionic acid", is a α- amino acid, biologically active optical isomers of L- phenylalanine (L-Phenylalanine) Specific rotation was -35.1 ° , pI = 5.48.
Phenylalanine is one of the essential amino acids, at room temperature, a white crystalline powder or crystalline solid, vacuum sublimation, soluble in water, insoluble in methanol, ethanol, ethyl ether.
Phenylalanine is one of the essential amino acids, is an aromatic amino acid. Most in vivo by catalytic oxidation of phenylalanine to tyrosine hydroxylase, and together with the synthesis of tyrosine important neurotransmitters and hormones involved in the body's glucose metabolism and fat metabolism.