Hi, today we are going to discuss very important topics in the biochemistry definition and properties of amino acids. To maintain cellular activity we need different types of biomolecules which we get from food or some of them synthesized in our body.
Amino acids are an example of such biomolecules which need for our proper development and growth. Amino acids are the monomers of protein molecules and there are around 300 types of amino acids in nature. But if we talk about the amino acids that join together to form protein, there are only 20 amino acids.
Table of Contents
General Properties of Amino Acids:
Amino acids show very high melting point and boiling point, the physical state of amino acids are solid crystalline substances, amino acids show different varieties in taste some are restless some are sweet in taste while some are bitter in taste, most of them are highly soluble in water.
Non Essential Amino Acids:
We need 20 amino acids for creating different proteins but all of them are not produced in our body. The amino acids which are produced in our body do not need to take external supply very much for those amino acids which are known as non-essential amino acids.
Amino acids like alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamine, glutamic acid, and some other amino acids are easily synthesized in our body so they are called non-essential amino acids.
Essential Amino Acids:
The amino acids which our body does not synthesize we need to take from outside to fulfill their availability for protein synthesis. For example, phenylalanine, tryptophan, methionine, leucine, valine are some examples of essential amino acids which need to be taken from outside.
Structure of Amino Acids:
All amino acids follow a similar pattern in their structure and their general formula is H2NCH RCOOH where ‘R’ is an alkyl group. In amino acids the two ends have two different groups one end has a basic amino group (- NH2) and the other end has a carboxylic acid group (-COOH).
So all amino acids have four groups: one amino group, one hydrogen atom, one carboxylic acid group and another one is an alkyl group among the four groups; the first three groups are the same in all amino acids. The difference between the various amino acids is due to the alkyl group which is different for each amino acid.
Major Sources of Amino Acids:
The amino acids that are not synthesized in our body must be taken from outside through protein-rich foods. The amino acids are building blocks for most of the enzymes, structural proteins, elements of the immunity system, carrier protein in cellular transport, and other biological processes.
Vegetables as Source of Amino Acids:
Beans and other legumes are rich in protein but other vegetables are also rich in protein like broccoli, pumpkin, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, green leafy vegetables, onions, beetroot, lentils, soybean.
Fruits as Source of Amino Acids:
Some fruits which can be taken as amino acids source are oranges, pineapple, melons, papaya, apple, fig, berries, grapes, banana, pomegranate.
Animal Products as Source of Amino Acids:
Most of the animal products are rich in protein from which we can fulfill our whole amino acids requirements, for example, meat, chicken, pork, dairy products, seafood, eggs are sources of amino acids.
Deficiency Symptoms of Amino Acids:
We know that amino acids are the building blocks of most of the important components of our cells and to maintain our cellular activity we need different types of enzymes which are made of amino acids.
So without any amino acids, our body will become unable to make some specific protein which will affect our living systems badly. So we should take proper supply of amino acids through protein-rich foods.
Our body is unable to meet all the required amino acids in sufficient amounts then our body shows some indication which tells us about the deficiency of amino acids. Major deficiency symptoms of amino acids are insomnia, edema, diarrhea, loss of appetite, anemia, headache, weakness.
Reference: Definition and Properties of Amino Acids
Hi Everyone!!! Welcome to Imaluop. Imaluop always try to learn some new and he want to share to other people. Here we will try to learn various topics on Science, specially on Biological Sciences.