-Alanine

-Alanine is found in the vitamin pantothenic acid, coenzyme A, and in some important natural peptides. It is the only naturally occurring amino acid. -alanine is formed as an end product of pyrimidine nucleotide catabolism by hydrolysis of -ureidopropionic acid in the reaction below:

-Ureidopropionic acid + H2O <=> -Alanine + NH4+ + CO2 (catalyzed by -ureidopropionase)

See also: Figure 22.11, Coenzyme A, Amino Acids Not In Proteins, Pyrimidine Catabolism

INTERNET LINKS: -Alanine Metabolism