无气味。有特殊甜味，易溶于水(166.5g/l水,25℃)，微溶于乙醇(0.2%/80%冷酒精)，不溶于乙醚和丙酮等有机溶剂。甜度约为蔗糖的70%。200℃以上开始升华,化学性能稳定。5%水溶液的PH值5.5-7.0。天然品存在于羊毛，绢丝等中。生化研究。组织培养。肝功能测定。属于非必需氨基酸，是血液中含量最多的一种氨基酸，有重要生理作用。
L-Alanine is a nonessential amino acid that plays a key role in the glucose-alanine cycle between muscle tissue and the liver. In amino acid-degrading tissues such as muscle, amino groups are pooled as glutamate by transamination reactions. The amino group of glutamate is transferred to pyruvate via alanine aminotransferase, forming alanine and α-ketoglutarate. The alanine is passed into the blood and transported to the liver. This reaction is reversed in the liver where pyruvate can be used in gluconeogenesis to form glucose, which may return to other tissues through the circulatory system.
A nonessential amino acid that plays a key role in the glucose-alanine cycle