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Amino Acids: importance in life


Amino acids are quintessential molecules of life; these are the building blocks of Proteins. And we know that protein is the basis of life, which acts in each step of our life-cycle, helps in making each piece of the body, and fulfills the need of our supplements. Its’ unit “Amino Acids” serve as substrate for many live mechanisms.

Actually Amino Acids are Carboxylic Acid, which contains at least one amino acid. A general formula of amino acids is:

                                                       R-CH-(NH2)-COOH


On the base of chemical composition, they are found in various characteristics.


  • Some of them contain aliphatic hydrocarbon chains, (Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Leucine, Isoleucine),
  • Some of them are completed with aromatic side chains (Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Tryptophan),
  • Amino Acids with acidic side chains (Aspartic Acid, Glutamic Acid),
  • Amino Acid with Hydroxyl Groups (Serine, Threonine),
  • Amino Acid with Basic side chain (Lysine, Arginine),
  • Amino Acid with Imidazoles(Histidine),
  • Amino acids with Sulphur (Cysteine, Cystine, Methionine), &
  • Amino Acid with Pyrollidine ring (Proline, Hydroxyproline).

Amino acids are crystalline and colorless molecules with an average weight of 120 D. Some of them are synthesized inside the body while others are required to take through dietary supplements.

Every Amino Acid has some unique triplet base codes, and this may vary up to 4 but each code denotes only a distinct Amino Acid. A slight change in this code can alter the protein functioning and produce abnormalities.




http://www.bioss.ac.uk/~dirk/genomeOdyssey/go_1955_to_66.html
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/aminoacids/dna4.html
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