DL-Alanine

DL-Alanine is a chemical classified as a non-essential amino acid. Here's a breakdown of its key features:

• Composition: It's a racemic mixture, meaning it combines two forms of the amino acid alanine: L-alanine and D-alanine [1].
• Function: In the body, L-alanine is the naturally occurring form and plays several important roles. It's a common building block for protein synthesis, involved in the metabolism of vitamin B6 and tryptophan, and provides an energy source for muscles and the central nervous system [4, 6].
• Applications: DL-alanine itself has various applications in research and industry. It's used as a model compound to develop techniques for separating different forms of amino acids [3]. In food science, it can act as a flavoring agent, enhancer, or curing agent [4].

Important to note: While DL-alanine has some uses, the L-alanine form is the one used by the body and more relevant for biological functions.