CAS 21881-18-5: Z-L-phenylalanyl-L-alanine

Sensitive substrate for cathepsin A.

Z-Phe-Ala-OH is a synthetic amino acid with the chemical formula of C10H13NO3. This compound is a racemic mixture of L-Z-Phe and D-Z-Phe. Z-Phe-Ala-OH has been shown to inhibit protein synthesis by acting as an enzyme inhibitor, which leads to neuronal death. It also has reactive properties that can lead to cell death, which may be due to its ability to react with methyl ketones. Z-Phe-Ala-OH's acidic nature makes it a toxic compound for cells and can cause apoptotic effects. The reactive properties of this compound make it a potential candidate for use in cancer therapy and other treatments that target glutamate receptors and their signaling pathways, such as excitotoxic or glutamate antagonists.