Alanine

**Semantic type:** Amino Acid, Peptide, or Protein

**Definition:** A small non-essential amino acid in humans, Alanine is one of the most widely used for protein construction and is involved in the metabolism of tryptophan and vitamin pyridoxine. Alanine is an important source of energy for muscles and central nervous system, strengthens the immune system, helps in the metabolism of sugars and organic acids, and displays a cholesterol-reducing effect in animals. (NCI04)

**Synonyms:** - (S)-2-Aminopropanoic acid - ALANINE - Ala