l-[ring-13c6]-phenylalanine

L-[ring‑13C₆]‑phenylalanine is a stable isotope-labeled form of the essential amino acid L‑phenylalanine in which all six carbons of the phenyl ring are replaced with carbon‑13. It is chemically and metabolically identical to natural L‑phenylalanine except for its isotopic label. This compound is widely used as a metabolic tracer in research to study protein synthesis rates and amino acid metabolism in vivo and ex vivo. After administration—typically by intravenous injection—it enters normal phenylalanine metabolic pathways including conversion to tyrosine and subsequent neurotransmitter biosynthesis (dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine). The ^{13}C label allows precise tracking of its incorporation into proteins or metabolites using mass spectrometry or NMR techniques. Its primary applications are in studies of muscle protein synthesis kinetics and cancer metabolism[1][4][8].

Other names

l-phe (ring-13c6)180268-82-0