L-Phenylalanine by MP Biomedicals is a high purity reagent. This is an -amino acid which is viewed as a benzyl group substituted for the methyl group of alanine, or a phenyl group in place of a terminal hydrogen of alanine. It is available as a white powder which is soluble in water and hydrochloric acid. This neutral, and nonpolar amino acid is essential in nature since it is not synthesized in the body. Phenylalanine is a precursor for tyrosine and the skin pigment melanin. CAS No. 63-91-2 Quantity Provided: 100 gm per pack Molecular Formula: C9H11NO2 Molecular Weight: 165.2 Soluble in water L-Phenylalanine is widely used in chemical and biological sectors. L-Phenylalanine is used in the manufacture of food and drink products and is sold as a nutritional supplement for its reputed analgesic and antidepressant effects. It is a direct precursor to the neuromodulator phenylethylamine, a commonly used dietary supplement. The genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) is the inability to metabolize phenylalanine due to the lack of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase.