Amino Acid (Noun)
Meaning
Organic compounds containing an amino group and a carboxylic acid group; "proteins are composed of various proportions of about 20 common amino acids".
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are classified into essential and nonessential categories based on their ability to be synthesized by the human body.
- The amino acid profile of a protein determines its overall function and properties, and can be used to predict its three-dimensional structure.
- Glutamic acid is a nonessential amino acid that plays a key role in many biological processes, including neurotransmission and metabolism.
- The genetic code specifies the sequence of amino acids in a protein, with each codon corresponding to a specific amino acid.
- Certain amino acids, such as glycine and proline, have unique properties that allow them to form specific types of chemical bonds with other amino acids.