You have probably heard about amino acids before, whether related to diet, health, chemistry, or something else, but what exactly are they? Amino acids are small organic compounds that are also the building blocks of proteins within the body. There are over 500 different amino acids found in nature, but our genetic code is only directly coded to produce 20 of the 500. These 20 amino acids are further classified into two classes: essential and non-essential.
Amino Acids
What are “Amino Acids”?
Non-Essential Amino Acids
A non-essential amino acid is one that the body is capable of synthesizing on its own, from scratch. The body is able to produce enough of the amino acid to supply the demand in the body.
| Amino Acid | 3-Letter Code |
|---|---|
| Alanine | Ala |
| Arginine | Arg |
| Asparagine | Asn |
| Aspartic Acid/Aspartate | Asp |
| Cysteine | Cys |
| Glutamic Acid/Glutamate | Glu |
| Glutamine | Gln |
| Glycine | Gly |
| Proline | Pro |
| Serine | Ser |
| Tyrosine | Tyr |
Essential Amino Acids
An essential amino acid is one that the body is not capable of producing in sufficient quantities to meet the demand in the body. These amino acids must be supplemented from your diet.
| Amino Acid | 3-Letter Code |
|---|---|
| Histidine | His |
| Isoleucine | Ile |
| Leucine | Leu |
| Lysine | Lys |
| Methionine | Met |
| Phenylalanine | Phe |
| Threonine | Thr |
| Tryptophan | Trp |
| Valine | Val |
How Are Amino Acids Made?
Non-Essential amino acids are each synthesized through a set of steps driven by metabolic pathways. Many of these steps are initiated by our body’s metabolism of glucose (sugar). Essential amino acids are consumed via our diet but can also be synthetically manufactured (along with the non-essentials). Eggs and Quinoa are both contain these 9 amino acids!
What do Amino Acids Do?
Amino acids play a role in a majority of biological functions within our body. These can range from promoting growth and development, to healing, digestion, and providing energy, among many others. This is why amino acids are so critical to our health! Check out below to see a few ways amino acids are directly involved with our various biological functions!
Protein Building
Our DNA consists of a genetic code that dictates how proteins are created in our body.
Amino acids play a key role in this, as they are the building blocks used to create the protein chain.
Collagen
Collagen, the most abundant protein in our body, is the main protein found in connective tissues.
One of its most common amino acid components is Proline, Without Proline, our connective tissues would suffer.
Neurotransmitters
Many neurotransmitters are either natural or synthesized amino acids.
Glutamate (glutamic acid) is a non-essential amino acid that effects our learning and memory by making connections in the brain.
3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine
3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA), is another great example of an amino acid neurotransmitter. The non-essential amino acid, Tyrosine, can be converted into 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine. From there, it can be converted into Dopamine, another major amino acid neurotransmitter.
