- Beta-alanine
Chembox new
Reference= ["Merck Index", 11th Edition, 196.]
ImageFile = Beta-alanine structure.svg
ImageSize = 150px
IUPACName = 3-Aminopropanoic acid
OtherNames = β-Alanine
3-Aminopropionic acid
Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
CASNo = 107-95-9
PubChem = 239
ChemSpiderID = 234
SMILES = C(CN)C(=O)O
Section2 = Chembox Properties
C=3 | H=7 | N=1 | O=2
MolarMass = 89.093
Appearance = Bipyramidal crystals
Density =
MeltingPt = 197-198 °C (decomposition)
BoilingPt =
Solubility = Very soluble
Section3 = Chembox Hazards
MainHazards =
FlashPt =
Autoignition =In
biochemistry , beta-alanine (or β-alanine) is the only naturally occurringbeta amino acid , which areamino acids in which theamino group is at the β-position from the carboxylate group (i.e., two atoms away, see Figure 1). TheIUPAC name for beta-alanine would be 3-aminopropanoic acid. Unlike its normal counterpart, L-α-alanine, beta-alanine has no chiral center.Beta-alanine is not used in the
biosynthesis of any majorprotein s orenzyme s. It is formedin vivo by the degradation ofdihydrouracil andcarnosine . It is a component of the naturally occurringpeptides carnosine andanserine and also ofpantothenic acid (vitamin B5) which itself is a component ofcoenzyme A . Under normal conditions, beta-alanine is metabolized intoacetic acid .Beta-alanine is the rate-limiting precursor of
carnosine , which is to say carnosine levels are limited by the amount of available beta-alanine. Supplementation with beta-alanine has been shown to increase the concentration of carnosine in muscles, decrease fatigue in athletes and increase total muscular work done. [cite journal|author=Derave W, Ozdemir MS, Harris R, Pottier A, Reyngoudt H, Koppo K, Wise JA, Achten E. |title=Beta-alanine supplementation augments muscle carnosine content and attenuates fatigue during repeated isokinetic contraction bouts in trained sprinters |journal=J Appl Physiol |year=2007 |date=Aug 9 |pmid = 17690198 |doi=10.1152/japplphysiol.00397.2007 |volume=103 |pages=1736 ] cite journal|author=Hill CA, Harris RC, Kim HJ, Harris BD, Sale C, Boobis LH, Kim CK, Wise JA. |title=Influence of beta-alanine supplementation on skeletal muscle carnosine concentrations and high intensity cycling capacity |journal= Amino Acids |year=2007 |issue=2 |volume=32 |pages=225–33 |pmid =16868650 |doi=10.1007/s00726-006-0364-4 ]Typically studies have used supplementing strategies of multiple doses of 400 mg or 800 mg, administered at regular intervals for up to eight hours, over periods ranging from 4 to 10 weeks.Harris RC, Tallon MJ, Dunnett M, Boobis L, Coakley J, Kim HJ, Fallowfield JL, Hill CA, Sale C, and Wise JA (2006) The absorption of orally supplied β-alanine and its effect on muscle carnosine synthesis in human vastus lateralis. "Amino Acids". 30:279-289.] After a 10 week supplementing strategy, the reported increase in intramuscular carnosine content was an average of 80.1% (range 18 to 205%).
L-
Histidine , with a pKa of 6.1 is a relatively weak buffer over the physiological intramuscular pH range. However, when bound to other amino acids this increases nearer to 6.8-7.0. In particular, when bound to beta-alanine the pKa value is 6.83, [Bate-Smith EC (1938) The buffering of muscle in rigor: protein, phosphate and carnosine. "Journal of Physiology". 92:336-343.] making this a very efficient intramuscular buffer. Furthermore, because of the position of the beta amino group, beta-alanine dipeptides are not incorporated proteins and thus can be stored at relatively high concentrations (millimolar). Occurring at 17-25 mmol/kg (dry muscle), [Mannion AF, Jakeman PM, Dunnett M, Harris RC, and Willan PLT (1992) Carnosine and anserine concentrations in the quadriceps femoris muscle of healthy humans. "Eur. J. Appl. Physiol." 64:47-50.] carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) is an important intramuscular buffer, constituting 10-20% of the total buffering capacity in type I and II muscle fibres.Beta-alanine, provided in solution or as powder in gelatine capsules, however, causes paraesthesia when ingested in amounts above 10 mg per kg body weight (bwt). This is variable between individuals. Symptoms may be experienced by some individuals as mild even at 10 mg per kg bwt, in a majority as significant at 20 mg per kg bwt, and severe at 40 mg per kg bwt. However, an equivalent amount (equimolar) to 40 mg per kg bwt, ingested in the form of histidine containing dipeptides in chicken broth extract, did not cause paraesthesia.
It is probable that the
paraesthesia , a form of neuropathic pain, results from high peak blood-plasma concentrations of beta-alanine since greater quantities, ingested in the form of the beta-alanine / histidine (or methylhistidine) containing dipeptides (i.e. carnosine and anserine) in meat, do not cause the same symptoms. In this case the beta-alanine absorption profile is flattened but sustained for a longer period of time, whereas, the beta-alanine samples in the studies were administered as gelatine capsules containing powder. This resulted in plasma concentrations rising rapidly, peaking within 30 to 45 minutes, and being eliminated after 90 to 120 minutes. The paraesthesia caused is no indication of efficacy since the published studies undertaken so far have utilised doses of 400 mg or 800 mg at a time to avoid the paraesthesia. Furthermore, excretion of beta-alanine in urine accounted for 0.60%(+/-0.09), 1.50%(+/-0.40) and 3.64%(+/-0.47) of the administered doses of 10, 20, or 40 mg per kg body weight, indicating greater losses occurring with increasing dosage.Even though much weaker than
glycine (and thus with a debated role as a physiological transmitter), beta-alanine is an agonist next in activity to the cognate ligant glycine itself, forstrychnine -sensitive inhibitoryglycine receptor s (GlyRs) (the agonist order: glycine >> beta-alanine > taurine >> alanine, L-serine > proline). ["Encyclopedia of Life Sciences" Amino Acid Neurotransmitters. Jeremy M Henley, 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0000010 Article Online Posting Date: April 19, 2001]References
External links
* [http://www.genome.ad.jp/kegg/pathway/map/map00410.html KEGG map of β-alanine metabolism]
* [http://www.sportsnutritionsociety.org/site/pdf/JISSN-3-1-S1-29-06.pdf International Society of Sports Nutrition Conference Proceedings]
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