What Are Amino Acids?
Amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins. Proteins, in turn, are essential macromolecules that play a fundamental role in the structure, function, and regulation of tissues and organs within the human body. Amino acids are crucial for various physiological processes, and they are involved in the synthesis of enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters, and other molecules vital for life.
There are 20 standard amino acids that make up proteins. These amino acids can be classified into two main categories:
-
Essential Amino Acids
These are amino acids that the human body cannot produce on its own, so they must be obtained through the diet. There are nine essential amino acids: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
-
Non-Essential Amino Acids
The body can synthesize these amino acids, so they are not strictly required in the diet. Examples include alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine.
Amino acids are linked together through peptide bonds to form chains known as polypeptides, and these polypeptide chains further fold into complex three-dimensional structures, ultimately resulting in functional proteins. The sequence and arrangement of amino acids in a protein determine its specific function.
In addition to their role in protein synthesis, amino acids also serve as precursors for various molecules in the body, such as nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. The balance and availability of amino acids are crucial for maintaining proper health and function in the human body.