a crystalline, water-soluble, essential amino acid, C6H5CH2CH(NH2)COOH, necessary to the nutrition of humans and most animals, obtained chiefly from egg white or skim milk. Abbreviation:Phe; Symbol:F
Also called phen⋅yl⋅a⋅mi⋅no⋅pro⋅pi⋅on⋅ic ac⋅id /ˈfɛnləˈminoʊproʊpiˈɒnɪk,-ˈæmənoʊ-,ˈfin-,ˌfɛnləˌminoʊ-,-ˌæmənoʊ-,ˌfin-/Show Spelled Pronunciation[fen-l-uh-mee-noh-proh-pee-on-ik,-am-uh-noh-,feen-,fen-l-uh-mee-noh-,-am-uh-noh-,feen-]Show IPA.
phen·yl·al·a·nine (fěn'əl-āl'ə-nēn', fē'nəl-) n. An essential amino acid, C9H11NO2, that occurs as a constituent of many proteins and is normally converted to tyrosine in the human body. It is necessary for growth in infants and for nitrogen equilibrium in adults.
Main Entry: phe·nyl·al·a·nine Pronunciation: "fen-&l-'al-&-"nEn, "fEn- Function: noun : an essential aminoacid C9H11NO2 that is obtained in its levorotatory L-form by the hydrolysis of proteins (as lactalbumin), that is essential in human nutrition,and that is converted in the normal body to tyrosine —abbreviation Phe; —see PHENYLKETONURIA, PHENYLPYRUVIC ACID
phenylalanine phen·yl·al·a·nine (fěn'əl-āl'ə-nēn', fē'nəl-) n. Abbr. Phe An essential amino acid that occurs as a constituent of many proteins and is normally converted to tyrosine in the body.