Symbol: Ala A
Molecular Weight: 89.09
Isolectric point (pH) 6.0
Molecular Formula: C 3H7NO2
Alanine is one of the 20 most common natural amino acids. It is hydrophobic, with a methyl group side chain, and is the second-smallest of the 20 after glycine. Alanine is a non-essential amino acid that is involved in the metabolism of tryptophan and the vitamin pyridoxine. It is one of the most widely used amino acids in protein construction, averaging about 9 percent of average protein composition. Alanine is found in prostate fluid, and may play an important role in prostate health. Sources of alanine are meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and fish.