lac-phe lac-phe lactoylphenylalanine, or lac-phe, is a metabolite generated by intense exercise. in mice, high levels of lac-phe in the blood cause a decrease of food intake. in mammals it is created from (s)-lactate and l-phenylalanine by the cytosol nonspecific dipeptidase (cndp2) protein. it is classified as n-acyl-alpha-amino acid and pseudodipeptide. lac-phe names iupac name (2s)-2-amino]-3-phenylpropanoic acid other names n--l-phenylalaninaten-lactoyl-phenylalaninen-lactoylphenylalanine identifiers cas number 183241-73-8 3d model (jsmol) interactive image chebi chebi:174217 chemspider 9250603 pubchem cid 11075454 inchi inchi=1s/c12h15no4/c1-8(14)11(15)13-10(12(16)17)7-9-5-3-2-4-6-9/h2-6,8,10,14h,7h2,1h3,(h,13,15)(h,16,17)/t8-,10-/m0/s1key: iirjjzhhngabmq-wprpvwtqsa-n smiles c(c(=o)n(cc1=cc=cc=c1)c(=o)o)o properties chemical formula c12h15no4 molar mass 237.255 g·mol−1 related compounds related n-acyl-alpha-amino acids n-acetylaspartic acidn-acetylcysteinen-acetylglutamic acidn-acetylglutaminen-acetylleucinen-formylmethionine related compounds lactamide except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °c , 100 kpa). infobox references it has also been reported that as an additive n-l-lactoyl phenylalanine improves the taste of food, conferring an umami flavor. it is found naturally in significant amounts in some traditional chinese fermented foods such as preserved pickles and soy sauce.