Amino Acids

Amino Acids

Amino acids play central roles both as building blocks of proteins and as intermediates in metabolism. The 20 amino acids that are found within proteins convey a vast array of chemical versatility. The precise amino acid content, and the sequence of those amino acids, of a specific protein, is determined by the sequence of the bases in the gene that encodes that protein. The chemical properties of the amino acids of proteins determine the biological activity of the protein.

Ø  Twenty two basic units which provide the raw material for all proteins. Because the body doesn't store amino acids, it needs a daily supply of amino acids to make new protein.

Ø  Proteins require a very specific order for their amino acids to remain functional. If one amino acid is missing, the entire protein might not work.

Essential Amino Acids

Amino acids which cannot be synthesized by the human body and therefore must be supplied in the diet.  There are 9 amino acids which are essential.

Nonessential Amino Acids

These can also be synthesized by the body.  Can be conditionally essential – need to be supplied through diet in certain conditions.

Amino Acids make Proteins

Essential Amino Acids		Nonessential Amino Acids
Histdine	HSS-tuh-deen	Alanine	Al-ah-neen
Isoleucine	eye-so-LOO-seen	Arginine	ARJ-ih-neen
Leucine	LOO-seen	Asparagine	ah-SPAR-ah-geen
Lyysine	LYE-seen	Aspartic acid	as-SPAR-tic acid
Methionine	meh-TNIGH-oh-neen	Cysteine	SIS-the-een
Phenylalanine	fen-il-AL-ah-neen	Glutamine acid	GLU-tam-ic-acid
Threonine	Three-oh-neen	Glutamine	GLU-tah-meen
Tryptophan	TRIP-toe-fane,   TRIP-leen	Glycine	GLY-seen
Valine	VAY-leen	Proline	PRO-leen
		Serine	PRO-leen
		Tyrosine	(Tie-roe-seen)
		Cystine	(Sis-tyne)
		Ornithine	(Or-nee-theen)