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- DictionaryA·mi·no ac·id/əˌmēnō ˈasəd/
noun
- 1. a simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (—COOH) and an amino (—NH2) group: "the amino acid sequence of a protein"
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Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. [1] Although over 500 amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the 22 α-amino acids incorporated into proteins. [2] Only these 22 appear in the genetic code of life. [3] [4]
Aug 2, 2024 · An amino acid is an organic molecule that is made up of a basic amino group (−NH 2), an acidic carboxyl group (−COOH), and an organic R group (or side chain) that is unique to each amino acid. The term amino acid is short for α-amino [alpha-amino] carboxylic acid.
Oct 27, 2020 · Definition. Amino acids are the building blocks of polypeptides and proteins and play important roles in metabolic pathway, gene expression, and cell signal transduction regulation. A single organic amino acid molecule contains two functional groups – amine and carboxyl – and a unique side chain.
Amino acids are organic compounds containing the basic amino groups (-NH2) and carboxyl groups (-COOH). The ingredients present in proteins are amino acids. Both peptides and proteins are long chains of amino acids.
Dec 11, 2019 · An amino acid is an organic compound characterized by having a carboxyl group, amino group, and side-chain attached to a central carbon atom. Amino acids are used as precursors for other molecules in the body. Linking amino acids together forms polypeptides, which may become proteins.
Jun 9, 2019 · Amino acids are organic molecules that, when linked together with other amino acids, form a protein. Amino acids are essential to life because the proteins they form are involved in virtually all cell functions.
Aug 7, 2023 · Amino acids are organic compounds composed mainly of nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Your body needs 20 different amino acids to grow and function properly.
Amino acids are small molecules that are the building blocks of proteins. Proteins serve as structural support inside the cell and they perform many vital chemical reactions.
Aug 9, 2024 · noun. : an amphoteric organic acid containing the amino group NH2. especially : any of the various amino acids having the amino group in the alpha position that are the chief components of proteins and are synthesized by living cells or are obtained as essential components of the diet.
amino acid, Any of a class of organic compounds in which a carbon atom has bonds to an amino group (―NH 2 ), a carboxyl group (―COOH), a hydrogen atom (―H), and an organic side group (called ―R). They are therefore both carboxylic acids and amines.
