Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid used to build proteins and synthesize neurotransmitters. It is one of the standard amino acids coded by genetic sequences and cannot be synthesized by humans, so it must be ingested. In biochemistry, it is typically discussed alongside tyrosine and phenylalanine metabolism, with relevance to phenylketonuria screening and dietary considerations.
"Phenylalanine is a key precursor in the biosynthesis of tyrosine and downstream catecholamines."
"Individuals with phenylketonuria must monitor phenylalanine intake to prevent cognitive impairment."
"The amino acid phenylalanine can be found in many protein-rich foods and artificial sweeteners."
"Researchers study phenylalanine transport across the blood-brain barrier to understand neurotransmitter regulation."
Phenylalanine derives from the combination of phenyl-, from the phenyl group (C6H5–) derived from the benzene ring; and -alanine, from the amino acid alanine. The term phenyl comes from the Greek phainesthai ‘to show’ via the chemical naming tradition, where phenyl denotes a benzene ring substituent. Alanine comes from the amino acid suffix -alanine, from Latin amino acid, with -ine forming the amino group-bearing compound. The compound was first synthesized and discussed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as organic chemists explored amino acids’ structures. In biology, the naming formalized as L-phenylalanine to distinguish stereoisomers in proteins; D-forms are rare in nature but exist in some bacteria. The knowledge of phenylalanine metabolism and its role in neurotransmitter synthesis matured through 20th-century biochemistry, especially in studies of phenylalanine hydroxylase and phenylalanine hydroxylation to tyrosine, a critical step in catecholamine production. First known usage in scientific literature appears in amino acid research from the 1900s–1930s as amino acid sequences were mapped and the structure of phenylalanine solidified in structural chemistry references.
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Words that rhyme with "Phenylalanine"
-ine sounds
-re) sounds
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Pronounce as fə-NIL-ə-lə-neen, with stress on the second syllable formed by NIL. IPA: US /fəˈnɪl.əˌliːniːn/ or /fəˈnɪl.əˌæn.iːn/? (see below). In strict IPA for US: /ˌfiːˈnaɪlˌæləˌniːn/? Note: common scientific pronunciation places primary stress on the second syllable: fe-NIL-uh-luh-neen. Mouth positions: start with schwa then a light nasal release, then a short i as in “nick,” then “luh” before “neen.” Audio reference: consult a reputable dictionary with pronunciation audio such as Cambridge or Merriam-Webster for precise speaker variants.
Common errors: 1) Stress on the first syllable (FE-nuh-luh-neen) instead of second (fi-NIL-uh-luh-neen). 2) Mispronouncing ‘phenyl’ as a hard ‘phen’ as in phenom instead of ‘fi-nil’ with a light yod-like light ‘i’ sound. 3) Slurring the -anine ending to ‘-in’ or ‘-een’ without the proper final -iːn. Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable and separate into fi-nil-uh-luh-neen, ensuring the final -een is long. Use minimal pairs to train: “phenyl” vs “phenol.”
Across accents: US typically features /ˌfiːˈnɪl.əˌleɪniːn/ or /fəˈnɪl.əˌliːn/ with a rhotic American vowel and clearer schwa reductions; UK uses /fəˈnɪl.əˌliːn/ with more non-rhotic mouth posture and less vowel length; Australian tends to merge some vowels and maintain a clear final -een with a slightly shorter final vowel. In all, the strong stress on the second syllable persists; the final -ine tends to be elongated in US and some UK varieties, slightly shortened in AU.
The difficulty stems from the multi-syllabic structure and the rare sequence -yl- followed by -alanine with consecutive vowels. The 'phenyl' cluster has an initial 'feh' or 'fay' sound, then a quick 'n' and 'il', and the trailing 'alanine' includes a long 'ee' or 'een' sound with a Y-sound in the middle. The consonant cluster and the long final vowel require precise lip, tongue, and jaw positioning to avoid substituting sounds—especially avoiding turning it into a simpler 'phenyl-uh-neen'.
No. All letters contribute to sounds, but some vowels are reduced in connected speech. The word is pronounced with explicit vowel sounds in each syllable: fi-nil-ə-lə-neen. The potential source of confusion is whether the final -ine is pronounced as 'een' or 'een' with a long vowel. The 'yl' segment includes a palatal-ish y sound (the 'y' in phenyl is a consonantal i- sound). The key is to articulate each vowel clearly rather than elide syllables.
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