L-Alanine

L-Alanine (CAS No.: 56-41-7) is a non-essential, proteinogenic amino acid widely distributed in plasma and tissues, where it serves as a central intermediate in nitrogen and carbon metabolism. Endogenously generated primarily through transamination of pyruvate and via enzymatic decarboxylation of aspartate, L-alanine plays a key role in the glucose-alanine cycle, facilitating the transport of amino groups from peripheral tissues to the liver and contributing to gluconeogenesis. Functionally, it is involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis, supporting metabolic processes in muscle, brain, and the central nervous system, and has been associated with modulation of immune responses. Dysregulation of alanine metabolism has been implicated in metabolic disorders such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, ketotic hypoglycemia, and lactic acidosis, highlighting its relevance in disease modeling and metabolic research. Although L-alanine does not act as a classical high-affinity ligand for specific receptors or enzymes, it participates in enzymatic networks including aminotransferases and pathways linked to glycolysis and amino acid interconversion, with biological effects typically observed in the millimolar concentration range in vitro due to its role as a metabolic substrate. In research settings, it is commonly utilized in cell culture and animal models to investigate metabolic flux, nutrient sensing, and amino acid transport, as well as in drug discovery workflows focused on metabolic regulation, where experimental concentrations or dosing regimens are adjusted according to specific study designs and objectives.