Amino Acids
Amino Acids - Humans can synthesize 10 amino acids
The essential amino acids are present in many common proteins. Humans can synthesize 10 of them (by inter conversions) from each other or from other molecules of intermediary metabolism, but the other 10 (essential amino acids: arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine) must be consumed in the diet. Any of a class of organic compounds in which a carbon atom has bonds to an amino group (−NH2), a carboxyl group (−COOH), a hydrogen atom (−H), and an organic side group (called −R). They are therefore both carboxylic acids and amines. The physical and chemical properties unique to each result from the properties of the R group, particularly its tendency to interact with water and its charge (if any). Amino acids joined linearly by peptide bonds (see covalent bond) in a particular order make up peptides and proteins. Of over 100 natural amino acids, each with a different R group, only 20 make up the proteins of all living organisms.
Foods
Profile
Branch Chained Amino Acid
Category
Description
Description
Alanine
1420 mg
Alpha-alanine is one of the nonessential amino acids, found in most proteins and particularly abundant in fibroin, the protein in silk. It is used in research and as a dietary supplement. Beta-alanine is a naturally occurring amino acid not found in proteins. It is an important constituent of the vitamin pantothenic acid and is used in its synthesis, as well as in biochemical research, electroplating, and organic synthesis.
Arginine
2370 mg
One of the essential amino acids, particularly abundant in histones and other proteins associated with nucleic acids. It plays an important metabolic role in the synthesis of urea, the principal form in which mammals excrete nitrogen compounds. Arginine is used in medicine and biochemical research, in pharmaceuticals, and as a dietary supplement.
Aspartic Acid
3080 mg
One of the nonessential amino acids, found in many proteins and closely related to asparagine. It is used in medical and biochemical research, as an organic intermediate, and in various industrial applications. It is one of the two components of aspartame.
Cystine
340 mg
Sulfur-containing nonessential amino acid. In peptides and proteins, the sulfur atoms of two cysteine molecules are bonded to each other to make cystine, another amino acid. The bonded sulfur atoms form a disulfide bridge, a principal factor in the shape and function of skeletal and connective tissue proteins and in the great stability of structural proteins such as keratin.
Glutamic Acid
4710 mg
One of the nonessential amino acids, closely related to glutamine. The two constitute a substantial fraction of the amino acids in many proteins (10–20% in many cases and up to 45% in some plant proteins). An important metabolic intermediate as well as a neurotransmitter molecule in the central nervous system, glutamic acid finds uses in medicine and biochemical research. Its sodium salt is the food flavor enhancer mono sodium glutamate (MSG).
Glycine
1220 mg
One of the nonessential amino acids. The simplest amino acid (NH2CH2COOH), it occurs in many proteins; especially rich sources are silk fibroin and gelatin. It has a sweet taste and is used to reduce the bitter flavor of saccharin. Other uses are in organic synthesis and biochemical research, as a nutrient and feed additive, and to retard rancidity in animal and vegetable fats.
Histidine
670 mg
One of the essential amino acids, first isolated in 1896. It occurs abundantly in hemoglobin and can be isolated from blood cells. It is used in medicine and biochemical research and as a dietary supplement and feed additive.
Isoleucine
1340 mg
One of the essential amino acids, present in most common proteins. It was first isolated in 1904 from fibrin, a protein involved in coagulation. It is used in medicine and biochemical research and as a nutritional supplement.
Leucine
2340 mg
One of the essential amino acids, present in most common proteins and particularly abundant in hemoglobin. One of the first amino acids discovered (1819), it is used in biochemical research and as a nutritional supplement.
Lysine
1780 mg
One of the essential amino acids, present in many common proteins.Its proportion in the proteins of some important food plants (including wheat and corn) is so small that populations dependent on these grains as the sole source of dietary protein suffer from lysine deficiency, affecting growth in children and general well-being in adults. It is used in biochemical and nutritional research, in pharmaceuticals, in fortified foods, and as a nutritional supplement and feed additive.
Methonine
450 mg
Sulfur-containing essential amino acid, present in many common proteins, particularly egg albumin. It is used in pharmaceuticals, in enriched foods, and as a nutritional supplement and feed additive.
Pheylalnine
1540 mg
One of the essential amino acids, present in many common proteins, especially hemoglobin. It is used in medicine and nutrition and as one of the two amino acids making up aspartame. Persons with phenylketonuria do not metabolize phenylalanine properly and must adhere to a diet free of it.
Proline
1290 mg
One of the nonessential amino acids, found in many proteins, especially collagen. Because the nitrogen atom of its amino group is part of a ring structure (making it a hetero-cyclic compound), its chemical properties differ from those of the other amino acids in proteins. It is used in biochemical, nutritional, and microbiological research and as a dietary supplement.
Serine
1290 mg
One of the nonessential amino acids, found in substantial concentrations (sometimes 5–10%) in many common proteins. It is also an important component of phospholipids. It is used in biochemical and microbiological research and as a dietary supplement and feed additive.
Threonine
1490 mg
One of the essential amino acids. It occurs in the proteins of egg, milk, gelatin, and other biological substances and may be synthesized or obtained by hydrolyzing casein. It is used in nutritional and biochemical research and as a dietary supplement.
Tryptophan
980 mg
One of the essential amino acids. It is a hetero-cyclic compound that is found in small amounts in most proteins. It plays an important role in the growth and development of infants and in the biosynthesis of serotonin and niacin (thus, deficiency of niacin or tryptophan can cause pellagra). Its occurrence in milk has been suggested as the reason that drinking milk before bedtime helps people sleep. It is used in medicine and nutrition research, in enriched foods, and as a dietary supplement.
Tyrosine
1220 mg
One of the amino acids, not essential for humans unless they have the hereditary disorder phenylketonuria. It is the biochemical precursor of many important catecholamines. It is found in small amounts in most proteins, especially insulin and papain (found in papaya). It is used in biochemical research and as a dietary supplement.
Valine
1440 mg
One of the essential amino acids, found in most proteins. Produced industrially by hydrolysis of proteins or by chemical synthesis, it is used in biochemical and nutritional research and as a dietary supplement.