phenylalanine

views updated May 21 2018

phenylalanine An essential amino acid; in addition to its role in protein synthesis, it is the metabolic precursor of tyrosine (and hence noradrenaline, adrenaline, and the thyroid hormones). Dietary tyrosine spares phenylalanine, so reducing the requirement.

phenylalanine

views updated May 29 2018

phen·yl·al·a·nine / ˌfenəlˈaləˌnēn; ˌfēnəl-/ • n. Biochem. an amino acid, C6H5CH2CH(NH2)COOH, widely distributed in plant proteins. It is an essential nutrient in the diet of vertebrates.

phenylalanine

views updated May 18 2018

phenylalanine An aromatic, nonpolar amino acid; it occurs in proteins and is essential for humans.

phenylalanine

views updated May 23 2018

phenylalanine (fee-nyl-al-ă-neen) n. an essential amino acid that is readily converted to tyrosine. Blockade of this metabolic pathway gives rise to phenylketonuria.

phenylalanine

views updated Jun 27 2018

phenylalanine An aromatic, non-polar amino acid.

phenylalanine

views updated May 29 2018

phenylalanine See amino acid.