Phenylalanine

Phenylalanine (US: /ˌfɛnəlˈæləniːn/, UK: /ˌfiːnaɪlˈæləniːn/; abbreviated as Phe or F) is an α-amino acid with the formula C₆H₅CH₂CH(NH₂)COOH. It can be viewed as a benzyl group substituted for the methyl group of alanine, or a phenyl group in place of a terminal hydrogen of alanine. This essential amino acid is classified as neutral, and nonpolar because of the inert and hydrophobic nature of the benzyl side chain. The L-isomer is used to biochemically form proteins, coded for by DNA. The codons for L-phenylalanine are UUU and UUC. Phenylalanine is a precursor for tyrosine; the monoamine neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and epinephrine (adrenaline); and the skin pigment melanin.