alanyl

Alanyl is a term used in biochemistry to refer to the amino acid alanine in its free form, not attached to any other molecule. Alanine is one of the 20 standard amino acids used by living organisms to build proteins. It is a non-essential amino acid, meaning that the human body can synthesize it from other amino acids and glucose. Alanine is often found in high concentrations in the blood and is involved in various metabolic processes, including the production of glucose during times of low blood sugar. It also plays a role in the detoxification of ammonia, a toxic byproduct of protein metabolism. In addition to its biological functions, alanine has been used in various applications, such as in the production of pharmaceuticals and as a food additive. The term "alanyl" is also used in the context of peptide synthesis and protein engineering to refer to the alanine residue in a peptide or protein chain.