X An amino acid but not used to build proteins: D-alanine is an amino acid, the building blocks of proteins. However, it’s the lesser-known “mirror image” of the more common L-alanine. D-alanine isn’t directly used to create our proteins like its L-alanine counterpart.
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Bacterial Building Block: Instead, bacteria use D-alanine to construct peptidoglycan, a critical mesh-like component of their cell walls.
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Peptidoglycan in bacterial cell wall
Chiral Forms (L-Alanine vs. D-Alanine): Amino acids often have two mirrored forms called enantiomers. The “L” and “D” designations distinguish these two forms, which relate to their structural orientation. Think of your hands - they are mirror images but non-superimposable.
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Lalanine
Why is D-Alanine Important?
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Antibiotic Target: The unique role of D-alanine in bacteria makes it a target for some antibiotics. These antibiotics work by disrupting the production of the bacterial cell wall, ultimately hindering the bacteria’s ability to survive.
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Potential Health Roles: Recent research explores the potential benefits of D-alanine in areas like:
- Brain function: It might act as a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger in the brain).
- Schizophrenia treatment: Studies suggest it could be used in conjunction with traditional medications.
- Gut health