amino acid
Definition
- Noun:
- A type of organic compound: An amino acid is a molecule that contains both a basic amino group (-NH₂) and an acidic carboxyl group (-COOH). These are the fundamental building blocks of proteins in living organisms.
Usage
- Amino acids are essential for life. They link together in chains to form proteins, which perform countless functions in the body, from building tissues to enabling chemical reactions.
- The human body uses about 20 common amino acids to synthesize proteins. Some of these the body can make itself (non-essential), while others must be obtained from food (essential amino acids).
Examples
- Noun:
- Proteins are composed of various proportions of about 20 common amino acids.
- Tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in foods like turkey and milk.
- Scientists analyzed the amino acid sequence of the enzyme.
Advanced Usage
- "Amino acid residue": Refers to an amino acid unit that is part of a polypeptide or protein chain, having lost a water molecule during the bond formation.
- The active site of the protein contains a critical serine amino acid residue.
- "Amino acid profile": The specific composition and quantity of amino acids in a food source or protein supplement.
- Whey protein has an excellent amino acid profile for muscle recovery.
Variants and Related Words
- Amino (adj): Relating to or containing an amino group. Often used as a prefix.
- The amino group is a key functional part of the molecule.
- Aminoacyl (adj): Referring to an amino acid that is attached to another molecule, such as transfer RNA (tRNA) during protein synthesis.
- Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase is a crucial enzyme in translation.
Synonyms
- None direct: There is no single common word that is a perfect synonym for "amino acid." It is a specific biochemical term. In broader contexts, it might be referred to as a protein building block or a monomer of proteins.
Related Phrases
- "Essential amino acid": An amino acid that cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from the diet.
- Lysine is an essential amino acid for humans.
- "Amino acid metabolism": The set of biochemical processes that create and break down amino acids in cells.
- Disorders of amino acid metabolism can cause serious health problems.
Related Idioms
- None direct: "Amino acid" is a scientific term and is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions.
Noun
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organic compounds containing an amino group and a carboxylic acid group
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proteins are composed of various proportions of about 20 common amino acids
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