Introduction

Phenylalanine is an essential alpha-amino acid. It exists in two forms, a D and an L form, which are enantiomers (mirror-image molecules) of each other.

The name, Phenylalanine, comes from its chemical structures consisting of a phenyl group substituted for one of the hydrogens in the side chain of alanine. Because of its phenyl group, phenylalanine is an aromatic compound.

Functions of Phenylalanine in the body

Classification

Dietary Sources

History