alanine

American  

[al-uh-neen, -nin] / ˈæl əˌnin, -nɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. any of several isomers of a colorless, crystalline, water-soluble amino acid, CH 3 CH(NH2 )COOH, found in many proteins and produced synthetically: used chiefly in biochemical research. Ala; A

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alanine British  

/ ˈæləˌniːn, -ˌnaɪn /

noun

1. a nonessential aliphatic amino acid that occurs in many proteins

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alanine Scientific  

/ ăl′ə-nēn′ /

1. A nonessential amino acid. Chemical formula: C ₃ H ₇ NO ₂ .

2. See more at amino acid

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Etymology

Origin of alanine

1860–65; al(dehyde) + -an- (arbitrarily inserted) + -ine ²

Example Sentences

In a Phase 3 clinical trial, two patients out of a total 2,000 recorded high levels of alanine aminotransferase and bilirubin, typically a strong predictor of liver failure.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

Although cave-dwelling fish all behaved in a stereotypical manner for the strong odorant alanine, the team observed individual differences in the response of both cave and surface-dwelling fish in response to other amino acid odours.

From Science Daily • Dec. 19, 2023

At the top of the list: a slightly elevated level of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase, or ALT.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2020

Arcadia Biosciences, based in Davis, California, has taken a gene for an enzyme called alanine amino­transferase from barley and incorporated it into other crops to encourage them to absorb nitrogen before microbes do.

From Nature • Sep. 18, 2013

Lactic acid and alanine were shown to be oxy- and amino-propionic acids respectively; glycollic acid and glycocoll, oxy- and amino-acetic acids; salicylic and benzamic acids, oxy- and amino-benzoic acids.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various