The chemical reactions and pathways involving beta-alanine (3-aminopropanoic acid), an achiral amino acid and an isomer of alanine. It occurs free (e.g. in brain) and in combination (e.g. in pantothenate) but it is not a constituent of proteins. [ https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=bn%3A0198506732 GOC:jl ]