Phenylalanine

Phenylalanine (Phe, F) ("Fenylalanine")

[math]\ce{ \tetrahedral{0==C;1==\utrigonal{0==C;1==(yl);3D==O;2==O$^-$};2==$^+$H$_3$N;3==\tetrahedral{0==C;1==(yl);2==H;4==H;3==\bzdrv{1==(yl)}};4==H} }[/math]

• a hydrophobic and aromatic amino acid
• a phenol derived aspartate acid precursor
• a ligand for the synthesis of aspartame when combined to acesulfame.
• a "phenylketonuric" compound associated to PKU or phenylketonuria disease, a group of symptoms associated to mental retardation and cognitive impairments in the brain, where excess phenylalanine is converted to a ketone in the CNS periphery (Central Nervous System).
• compound is found in diet drinks (ie Diet Mountain Dew) as a building block for Aspartame
• compound is a natural Auxin precursor: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~bot.512/lectures/auxin_metabolism.pdf

See also

• Potassium benzoate
• Aspartame