/al"euh neen', -nin/ , n. Biochem.
any of several isomers of a colorless, crystalline, water-soluble amino acid, CH 3 CH(NH 2 )COOH, found in many proteins and produced synthetically: used chiefly in biochemical research. Abbr.: Ala; Symbol: A
[ 1860-65; AL(DEHYDE) + -an- (arbitrarily inserted) + -INE 2 ]