L-Benzylalanine as a Model Amino Acid for the Study of Accumulation Diseases

L-Benzylalanine, like phenylalanine, accumulates in vivo when fed to rats, leading to diminished uptake of a number of amino acids into brain without a corresponding change in serum. The similar effects of benzylalanine and phenylalanine on other brain amino acids in the experimental animal, as well as some similarity of the catabolism of these two amino acids, adds benzylalanine to the list of compounds that can simulate an accumulation disease.