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Phenylalanine

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Definition

Phenylalanine is one of the 20 protein amino acids whose chemical structure is NH2─CH(CH2C6H5)─COOH. Its three-letter symbol is Phe, and one-letter symbol is F. Its molecular weight of 165.19, and its isoelectric point (pI) is 5.48. It shows poorer water solubility than most of the other amino acids. Since its side chain is a benzyl group (─CH2C6H5), it is grouped as an aromatic amino acid together with tyrosine and tryptophan. Proteins present a UV absorbance at 280 nm because of the UV-absorbing aromatic rings present in these amino acids. Phenylalamine has recently been detected in extracts from Antarctic carbonaceous chondrites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yokohama National University, Tokiwadai, 240-8501, Yokohama, Japan

    Kensei Kobayashi

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  1. Kensei Kobayashi
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Correspondence to Kensei Kobayashi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Kobayashi, K. (2014). Phenylalanine. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1180-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1180-4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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