methionine

Thân thiện

A student studies a diagram of methionine in a biochemistry textbook.

Definition

Noun: * An essential, sulfur-containing amino acid. It is a crystalline compound found in most dietary proteins and is necessary for normal growth and metabolism in humans and other animals.

Usage

• Methionine is a fundamental building block for proteins in the body.
• As an essential amino acid, methionine must be obtained from the diet, as the human body cannot synthesize it.
• It plays a critical role in various metabolic processes, including the synthesis of other important molecules.

Examples

• Foods like eggs, fish, and sesame seeds are good dietary sources of methionine.
• A deficiency in methionine can lead to health problems related to fat metabolism and detoxification.
• The chemical structure of methionine includes a sulfur atom, which distinguishes it from other amino acids.

Advanced Usage

• In biochemistry, methionine serves as the initiator amino acid in the synthesis of nearly all eukaryotic proteins.
• Methionine restriction is a subject of scientific study for its potential effects on lifespan and metabolism in some animal models.

Variants and Related Words

• L-methionine: The specific, biologically active form of methionine found in proteins and used in nutrition.
• Methionyl: A chemical prefix or residue indicating a derivative or compound containing methionine.

Synonyms

• Essential amino acid (this is its category, not a direct synonym).
• 2-amino-4-(methylthio)butanoic acid (its systematic IUPAC name).

Notes on Meaning

This word has a single, specific scientific meaning in biochemistry and nutrition. It does not have idiomatic or phrasal verb uses.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a crystalline amino acid containing sulfur; found in most proteins and essential for nutrition