Amino acid

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Related to Aminoacid: protein, Essential aminoacid, Amino acid metabolism

amino

[ah-me´no, am´ĭ-no]

the monovalent radical NH₂, when not united with an acid radical.

amino acid any of a class of organic compounds containing the amino (NH₂) and the carboxyl (COOH) groups, occurring naturally in plant and animal tissues and forming the chief constituents of protein. Twenty amino acids are necessary for protein synthesis. Eleven (the nonessential amino acids) can be synthesized by the human body and thus are not specifically required in the diet: alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine. Nine (the essential amino acids) cannot be synthesized by humans and thus are required in the diet: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

Structural formulas for some representative amino acids. From Applegate, 2000.

Protein foods that provide the essential amino acids are known as complete proteins; these include proteins from animal sources, such as meat, eggs, fish, and milk. Proteins that cannot supply the body with all the essential amino acids are known as incomplete proteins; these are the vegetable proteins most abundantly found in legumes (peas and beans), as well as certain grains. Because different incomplete proteins lack different amino acids, specific combinations can provide all of the essential amino acids.

In certain inherited or acquired disorders of metabolism, specific amino acids accumulate in the blood (aminoacidemia) or are excreted in excess in the urine (aminoaciduria). Urinary amino acid levels are increased in liver disease, muscular dystrophies, phenylketonuria (PKU), lead poisoning, and folic acid deficiency.

a·mi·no ac·id (AA, aa),

(ă-mē'nō as'id),

An organic acid in which one of the hydrogen atoms on a carbon atom has been replaced by NH₂. Usually refers to an aminocarboxylic acid. However, taurine is also an amino acid.
See also: α-amino acid.

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

amino acid

Any of various compounds containing an amino group (NH₂), a carboxylic acid group (COOH), and a distinctive side chain, especially any of the 20 amino acids that link together to form proteins. Some amino acids (called nonessential) can be synthesized in the human body, while others (called essential) must be obtained through the diet.

ami·no ac·id

(AA, aa) (ă-mē'nō as'id)

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

Fig. 28 Amino acid . Structure of a generalized amino acid.

Fig. 27 Amino acid . The 20 amino acids commonly found in protein, with the three-letter and, in brackets, one-letter abbreviation for each.

amino acid

a building block of protein, containing a carboxyl group (COOH) and an amino group (NH2), both attached to the same carbon atom. Over 80 amino acids are known to occur naturally, with 20 found commonly in proteins (see Fig. 27 ), each with a different side chain, called an ‘R’ group (see Fig. 28 ). Each of these common amino acids is described under its own heading.

Many amino acids can be synthesized in the body from other amino acids by a process called TRANSAMINATION, although most organisms have a number of ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS that must be taken in with the diet. Each amino acid is coded by at least one triplet of DNA bases (see GENETIC CODE), and the string of amino acids making up a protein is joined by PEPTIDE BONDS to form a POLYPEPTIDE CHAIN. The sequence of amino acids is the PRIMARY STRUCTURE. Amino acids are soluble in water but vary considerably in their solubility. When in solution they are ionized (see ZWITTERION) and generally are electrically neutral with a pH known as the ISOELECTRIC POINT. They are amphoteric, i.e. acting as acids or bases if the pH is shifted.

Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005

Amino acid

Amino acids are small molecules that are used as building blocks for all proteins. Some amino acids are also used in the body for the manufacture of hormones. There are about 20 nutritionally important amino acids, including glutamic acid, glycine, methionine, lysine, tryptophan, serine, and glycine.

Mentioned in: Amino Acid Disorders Screening, Cystinuria, Homocysteine, Phenylketonuria, Sickle Cell Disease, Stress Reduction, Vitamin B 6 Deficiency

ami·no ac·id

(aa) (ă-mē'nō as'id)

Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012

Patient discussion about Amino acid

Q. what are Amino Acids and what are their for? how do i need to do to keep it "going "?

A. Amino acids are the basic structural building units of proteins. They form short polymer chains called peptides or longer chains called either polypeptides or proteins. The process of such formation from an mRNA template is known as translation, which is part of protein biosynthesis. Twenty amino acids are encoded by the standard genetic code and are called proteinogenic or standard amino acids. Other amino acids contained in proteins are usually formed by post-translational modification, which is modification after translation in protein synthesis. These modifications are often essential for the function or regulation of a protein; for example, the carboxylation of glutamate allows for better binding of calcium cations, and the hydroxylation of proline is critical for maintaining connective tissues and responding to oxygen starvation. For full article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amino_acid Hope this helps.

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References in periodicals archive ?

For the determination of primary aminoacids, 250 [micro]L of hydrolyzed extract was taken and mixed with 250 [micro]L of o-phthalaldehyde (OPA); an aliquot of 20 [micro]L was injected into the HPLC chromatograph (Varian 9012).

Effect of Chitosan Edible Coating on the Biochemical and Physical Characteristics of Carp Fillet (Cyprinus carpio) Stored at -18[degrees]C

Pop, Antibacterial Activity of Copper and Cobalt Aminoacids Complexes, Not BotHortiAgrobo., 39,124 (2011).

Synthesis and Antifungal Studies of Copper Complexes with Glutamine and Cysteine

PROVEAN (Protein Variation Effect Analyzer) predicts the functional impact for all classes of protein sequence variations not only single aminoacid substitutions but also insertions, deletions, and multiple substitutions on the alignment-based score (7).

In silico evaluation of nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in the ADIPOQ gene associated with diabetes, obesity, and inflammation

The results of the sequencing showed a series of reported polymorphysms that defined her as an individual belonging to the T haplogroup and candidate mutation m.11930A>G that produce an aminoacid change Ile395Val in the mitochondrial gene coding for the complex I ND4 subunit, that has not been reported before.

Autismo asociado a una deficiencia del Complejo III y IV de la cadena respiratoria mitocondrial

The recently published international guidelines (9), (10) recommend extensively hydrolysed formulas (eHF) or aminoacid based formulas (AAF) as first-line alternatives for children with CMA.

Cow's milk allergy in children: cow's milk allergy is more common in children than in adults

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) that is synthesized from the essential amino aminoacid L-tryrophan is a vasoconstrictor and an effective stimulant for the smooth muscles (4) and it could play a role in no-reflow phenomenon.

Serotonin: another player in the complex pathogenesis of no-reflow phenomenon/ "No-reflow" fenomeninin karmasik patogenezinde baska bir oyuncu: serotonin

Group DR was divided into two lineages (DRI and DR2) showing an average nucleotide and aminoacid distance between them of 1.9% and 0.0%, respectively.

Analisis molecular de un caso de rabia urbana causado por un murcielago vampiro en Corrientes, Argentina

Glutaric aciduria: a "new" disorder of aminoacid metabolism.

Bilateral temporal arachnoid cysts and glutaric aciduria type 1/iki tarafli temporal araknoid kistler ve glutarik asiduri tip 1

This might be explained by the fact that the mucosa tunic presents high regenerative capacity of its own tissues; therefore, less aminoacid intake would be assigned to low regenerative tissues in order to prevent permanent damage and to avoid the nitrogenic balance to become negative.

Intestinal ascending colon morphometrics in rats submitted to severe protein malnutrition/Morfometria de la pared intestinal del colon ascendente de ratas sometidas a desnutricion proteica severa)