Alanine
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Alanine is an amino acid with the chemical formula CH₈.CH(NH₂).COOH, found in white crystals soluble in hot water but not in absolute alcohol. It is a component of most proteins, particularly fibroin, and exists in nature as the right-rotating isomer.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
Alanine, CH8.CH(NH2).COOH, aminopropionic acid, represents white crystals, soluble in hot water, less so in cold water, insoluble in absolute alcohol. In synthetic production, it is always formed as optically inactive (racemic) alanine; in nature, however, in plants and animals, the right-rotating isomer is found. Alanine is a component of most proteins; it is most abundant in fibroin protein (21%). In free form, it has been found in blood and meat extract; in phosphorus poisoning, it is found in urine. When passed through an isolated liver, it is deaminated. Yeasts exclusively decompose the right-rotating isomer of alanine.
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“Alanine.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/alanine/