20 Amino Acids
Content
Kimberly Brooke P. Go
November 23, 2015
BSA32KB2
20 AMINO ACIDS
Glycine a nonessential amino acid that functions as an inhibitory
neurotransmitter in the central nervous system; used as a gastric
antacid and dietary supplement, and as a bladder irrigation in
transurethral prostatectomy. Called also amino acetic acid.
Alanine a nonessential, nonpolar (neutral) amino acid found in
many food protein sources as well as in the body. It is degraded
in the liver to produce important biomolecules such as pyruvate
and glutamate. Its carbon skeleton also can be used as an
energy source.
Valine an essential amino acid needed for optimal growth in
infants and for nitrogen equilibrium in adults. Also called alphaamino isovaleric acid.
Lycine a naturally occurring amino acid, one of those essential
for human metabolism, necessary for optimal growth in human
infants and for maintenance of nitrogen equilibrium in adults. The
acetate and hydrochloride salts are used for dietary
supplementation and the hydrochloride salt is used for the
treatment of severe metabolic acidosis refractory to other
treatment.
Arginine a nonessential amino acid that occurs in proteins and is
involved in the urea cycle and in the synthesis of creatine.
Preparations of the base or the glutamate or hydrochloride salt
are used in the treatment of hyperammonemia and in the
assessment of pituitary function.
Leucine a naturally occurring amino acid, one of the essential
amino acids, necessary for growth in infants and for nitrogen
equilibrium in adults.
Histidine an essential amino acid obtainable from many proteins
by the action of sulfuric acid and water; it is necessary for optimal
growth in infants. Its decarboxylation results in formation of
histamine. Symbols His and H.
Methionine a nutritionally essential amino acid and the most
important natural source of "active methyl" groups in the body,
hence usually involved in methylations in vivo; the dl-form is used
as an adjunct in the treatment of liver diseases.
Aspartate a nonessential amino acid that has a central role in
transferring amino groups by aspartate aminotransferase in the
liver; in proteins, aspartate takes the form of its amide,
asparagine.
Isoleucine a naturally occurring amino acid produced by
hydrolysis of fibrin and other proteins, one of the essential amino
acids, necessary for optimal infant growth and for nitrogen
equilibrium in adults.
Glutamate a salt of glutamic acid. In addition to being one of the
20 major amino acids incorporated into the peptide chains of
proteins, it is a major excitatory amino acid of the central nervous
system, an excitatory neurotransmitter found in the central
nervous system of mammals and used as a flavor enhancer in its
sodium salt form, monosodium glutamate (MSG). Controversy
surrounds MSG and glutamate because of its role in MSG
symptom complex (also known as the Chinese restaurant
syndrome) and its deleterious effects as a potential excitotoxin.
Serine a naturally occurring, nonessential amino acid, used as a
dietary supplement, in biological studies and tests, and in culture
media.
Threonine is one of the naturally occurring amino acids, included
in the structure of most proteins, and nutritionally essential in the
diet of humans and other mammals.
Cysteine a sulfur-containing amino acid, one of the nonessential
amino acids, produced by enzymatic or acid hydrolysis of
proteins; it is readily oxidized to cystine and is sometimes found
in urine.
Proline a cyclic, nonessential amino acid; it is a major
constituent of collagen.
Asparagine a nutritionally nonessential amino acid occurring in
proteins; a diuretic.
Glutamine is derived by oxidation from proline in the liver or by
the combination of glutamic acid with ammonia; the l-isomer is
present in proteins, blood, and other tissues, and is an important
source of urinary ammonia, being broken down in the kidney by
the action of the enzyme glutaminase; nonenzymatically, it is
converted to 5-oxoproline.
Phenylalanine an essential amino acid necessary for the normal
growth and development of infants and children and for normal
protein metabolism throughout life. The normal value of this
amino acid in serum is less than 3 mg/dL in adults and 1.2 to 3.5
mg/dL in newborns. It is abundant in milk, eggs, and other
common foods.
Tyrosine a naturally occurring, nonessential amino acid present
in most proteins and synthesized metabolically from
phenylalanine. It is a precursor of melanin, catecholamines, and
thyroid hormones.
Tryptophan a naturally occurring amino acid, existing in proteins
and essential for human metabolism. It is a precursor of
serotonin. Adequate levels may mitigate pellagra by
compensating for deficiencies of niacin.
November 23, 2015
BSA32KB2
20 AMINO ACIDS
Glycine a nonessential amino acid that functions as an inhibitory
neurotransmitter in the central nervous system; used as a gastric
antacid and dietary supplement, and as a bladder irrigation in
transurethral prostatectomy. Called also amino acetic acid.
Alanine a nonessential, nonpolar (neutral) amino acid found in
many food protein sources as well as in the body. It is degraded
in the liver to produce important biomolecules such as pyruvate
and glutamate. Its carbon skeleton also can be used as an
energy source.
Valine an essential amino acid needed for optimal growth in
infants and for nitrogen equilibrium in adults. Also called alphaamino isovaleric acid.
Lycine a naturally occurring amino acid, one of those essential
for human metabolism, necessary for optimal growth in human
infants and for maintenance of nitrogen equilibrium in adults. The
acetate and hydrochloride salts are used for dietary
supplementation and the hydrochloride salt is used for the
treatment of severe metabolic acidosis refractory to other
treatment.
Arginine a nonessential amino acid that occurs in proteins and is
involved in the urea cycle and in the synthesis of creatine.
Preparations of the base or the glutamate or hydrochloride salt
are used in the treatment of hyperammonemia and in the
assessment of pituitary function.
Leucine a naturally occurring amino acid, one of the essential
amino acids, necessary for growth in infants and for nitrogen
equilibrium in adults.
Histidine an essential amino acid obtainable from many proteins
by the action of sulfuric acid and water; it is necessary for optimal
growth in infants. Its decarboxylation results in formation of
histamine. Symbols His and H.
Methionine a nutritionally essential amino acid and the most
important natural source of "active methyl" groups in the body,
hence usually involved in methylations in vivo; the dl-form is used
as an adjunct in the treatment of liver diseases.
Aspartate a nonessential amino acid that has a central role in
transferring amino groups by aspartate aminotransferase in the
liver; in proteins, aspartate takes the form of its amide,
asparagine.
Isoleucine a naturally occurring amino acid produced by
hydrolysis of fibrin and other proteins, one of the essential amino
acids, necessary for optimal infant growth and for nitrogen
equilibrium in adults.
Glutamate a salt of glutamic acid. In addition to being one of the
20 major amino acids incorporated into the peptide chains of
proteins, it is a major excitatory amino acid of the central nervous
system, an excitatory neurotransmitter found in the central
nervous system of mammals and used as a flavor enhancer in its
sodium salt form, monosodium glutamate (MSG). Controversy
surrounds MSG and glutamate because of its role in MSG
symptom complex (also known as the Chinese restaurant
syndrome) and its deleterious effects as a potential excitotoxin.
Serine a naturally occurring, nonessential amino acid, used as a
dietary supplement, in biological studies and tests, and in culture
media.
Threonine is one of the naturally occurring amino acids, included
in the structure of most proteins, and nutritionally essential in the
diet of humans and other mammals.
Cysteine a sulfur-containing amino acid, one of the nonessential
amino acids, produced by enzymatic or acid hydrolysis of
proteins; it is readily oxidized to cystine and is sometimes found
in urine.
Proline a cyclic, nonessential amino acid; it is a major
constituent of collagen.
Asparagine a nutritionally nonessential amino acid occurring in
proteins; a diuretic.
Glutamine is derived by oxidation from proline in the liver or by
the combination of glutamic acid with ammonia; the l-isomer is
present in proteins, blood, and other tissues, and is an important
source of urinary ammonia, being broken down in the kidney by
the action of the enzyme glutaminase; nonenzymatically, it is
converted to 5-oxoproline.
Phenylalanine an essential amino acid necessary for the normal
growth and development of infants and children and for normal
protein metabolism throughout life. The normal value of this
amino acid in serum is less than 3 mg/dL in adults and 1.2 to 3.5
mg/dL in newborns. It is abundant in milk, eggs, and other
common foods.
Tyrosine a naturally occurring, nonessential amino acid present
in most proteins and synthesized metabolically from
phenylalanine. It is a precursor of melanin, catecholamines, and
thyroid hormones.
Tryptophan a naturally occurring amino acid, existing in proteins
and essential for human metabolism. It is a precursor of
serotonin. Adequate levels may mitigate pellagra by
compensating for deficiencies of niacin.
