Record Information
Version1.0
StatusDetected and Quantified
Creation Date2020-12-10 18:39:39 UTC
Update Date2024-04-30 19:32:46 UTC
Metabolite IDMMDBc0000521
Metabolite Identification
Common NameN-Acetyl-L-phenylalanine
DescriptionN-Acetyl-L-phenylalanine or N-Acetylphenylalanine, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as N-acyl-alpha amino acids. N-acyl-alpha amino acids are compounds containing an alpha amino acid which bears an acyl group at its terminal nitrogen atom. N-Acetyl-L-phenylalanine can also be classified as an alpha amino acid or a derivatized alpha amino acid. Technically, N-Acetyl-L-phenylalanine is a biologically available N-terminal capped form of the proteinogenic alpha amino acid L-phenylalanine. N-acetyl amino acids can be produced either via direct synthesis of specific N-acetyltransferases or via the proteolytic degradation of N-acetylated proteins by specific hydrolases. N-terminal acetylation of proteins is a widespread and highly conserved process in eukaryotes that is involved in protection and stability of proteins (PMID: 16465618 ). About 85% of all human proteins and 68% of all yeast proteins are acetylated at their N-terminus (PMID: 21750686 ). Several proteins from prokaryotes and archaea are also modified by N-terminal acetylation. The majority of eukaryotic N-terminal-acetylation reactions occur through N-acetyltransferase enzymes or NAT’s (PMID: 30054468 ). These enzymes consist of three main oligomeric complexes NatA, NatB, and NatC, which are composed of at least a unique catalytic subunit and one unique ribosomal anchor. The substrate specificities of different NAT enzymes are mainly determined by the identities of the first two N-terminal residues of the target protein. The human NatA complex co-translationally acetylates N-termini that bear a small amino acid (A, S, T, C, and occasionally V and G) (PMID: 30054468 ). NatA also exists in a monomeric state and can post-translationally acetylate acidic N-termini residues (D-, E-). NatB and NatC acetylate N-terminal methionine with further specificity determined by the identity of the second amino acid. N-acetylated amino acids, such as N-acetylphenylalanine can be released by an N-acylpeptide hydrolase from peptides generated by proteolytic degradation (PMID: 16465618 ). In addition to the NAT enzymes and protein-based acetylation, N-acetylation of free phenylalanine can also occur. In particular, N-Acetyl-L-phenylalanine can be biosynthesized from L-phenylalanine and acetyl-CoA by the enzyme phenylalanine N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.53). N-Acetyl-L-phenylalanine is a potential uremic toxin and is considered as a hazardous amphipathic metabolite of phenylalanine (PMID: 4038506 ). Many N-acetylamino acids, including N-acetylphenylalanine, are classified as uremic toxins (PMID: 26317986 ; PMID: 20613759 ). Uremic toxins are a diverse group of endogenously produced molecules that, if not properly cleared or eliminated by the kidneys, can cause kidney damage, cardiovascular disease and neurological deficits (PMID: 18287557 ). N-Acetyl-L-phenylalanine appears in large amount in urine of patients with phenylketonuria (PKU), which is a human genetic disorder due to the lack of phenylalanine hydroxylase, the enzyme necessary to metabolize phenylalanine to tyrosine (PMID: 3473611 ). N-Acetyl-L-phenylalanine is a product of enzyme phenylalanine N-acetyltransferase [EC 2.3.1.53] which is found in the phenylalanine metabolism pathway. N-Acetyl-L-phenylalanine is produced for medical, feed, and nutritional applications such as in the preparation of aspartame. Afalanine (N-Acetyl-DL-phenylalanine) is also approved for use as an antidepressant.
Structure
Synonyms
ValueSource
Acetyl-L-phenylalanineChEBI
AcetylphenylalanineChEBI
L-N-AcetylphenylalanineChEBI
N-AcetylphenylalanineChEBI
N-Acetyl-3-phenyl-L-alanineHMDB
N-Acetyl-L-phenalanineHMDB
N-Acetylphenylalanine, (D,L)-isomer, 3H-labeledHMDB
N-Acetylphenylalanine, (L)-isomerHMDB
N-Acetylphenylalanine, (L)-isomer, 3H-labeledHMDB
N-Acetylphenylalanine, (D)-isomerHMDB
Molecular FormulaC11H13NO3
Average Mass207.2258
Monoisotopic Mass207.089543287
IUPAC Name(2S)-2-acetamido-3-phenylpropanoic acid
Traditional Nameacetyl-L-phenylalanine
CAS Registry NumberNot Available
SMILES
CC(=O)N[C@@H](CC1=CC=CC=C1)C(O)=O
InChI Identifier
InChI=1S/C11H13NO3/c1-8(13)12-10(11(14)15)7-9-5-3-2-4-6-9/h2-6,10H,7H2,1H3,(H,12,13)(H,14,15)/t10-/m0/s1
InChI KeyCBQJSKKFNMDLON-JTQLQIEISA-N