Amino acid

Amino acids are molecules present in the composition of proteins called peptides, which are assembled by bonds.

Structure of amino-acids

Their name comes from the fact that they have an amine group (NH₂) and a carboxylic acid group (COOH). They differ according to their side chain R which may be a single hydrogen atom (glycine), or more complex.

Function of amino acids

There are around a hundred amino acids but only 22 are coded for by the genome of living organisms.

Each amino acid confers specific chemical properties on the protein and the order of assembly gives it a very specific function.

List of the biological amino acids

• alanine ;
• arginine ;
• asparagine ;
• aspartate or aspartic acid ;
• cysteine ;
• glutamate or glutamic acid ;
• glutamine ;
• glycine ;
• histidine ;
• isoleucine ;
• leucine ;
• lysine ;
• methionine ;
• phenylalanine ;
• proline ;
• pyrrolysine ;
• selenocysteine ;
• serine ;
• threonine ;
• tryptophan ;
• tyrosine ;
• valine.