L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine (Ala-Gln) is a dipeptide used as a substitute for L-Glutamine in mammalian cell culture media.
L-Glutamine is unstable in solution and forms ammonia, which can have harmful effects on cells in culture. L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine is stable during heat sterilization and produces less ammonia than L-Glutamine, making it a preferable component in cell culture media.