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Amino acids: A review article

Article  in  Journal of medicinal plant research · September 2011

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Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 5(17), pp. 3997-4000, 9 September, 2011
Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR
ISSN 1996-0875 ©2011 Academic Journals

Review

Amino acids: A review article

M. Akram1,4*, H. M. Asif2, M. Uzair3, Naveed Akhtar2, Asadullah Madni2, S. M. Ali Shah2,
Zahoor ul Hasan1 and Asmat Ullah1
1
Shifa ul Mulk Memorial Hospital, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan.
2
Faculty of Pharmacy and Alternative Medicine, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
3
Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
4
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi, Madinat-al-Hikmah,
Muhammad Bin Qasim Avenue, Karachi, Pakistan-74600, Pakistan.
Accepted 8 April, 2011

Amino acids are building blocks of protein. More than 300 amino acids have been described, but only
20 amino acids take part in protein synthesis. All twenty amino acids did not appear simultaneously in
nature. Instead some of them appeared early, while others were added into the genetic code later. It is
necessary to take them in the diet because their deficiency results in decrease formation of protein that
ultimately leads to disease condition. In this article, amino acids, its functions and associated diseases
have been elaborated.

Key words: Amino acids, activity, diseases.

INTRODUCTION

Amino acids are basic unit of protein. Amino acids
contain an amino group and a carboxylic group. Amino
acids play major role in regulating multiple processes
related to gene expression, including modulation of the
function of the proteins that mediate messenger RNA
(mRNA) translation (Scot et al., 2006). Amino acids are
utilized in formation of protein. If amino acids are
deficient, then protein synthesis does not occur. As a
result protein deficiency disease may occur. It is
necessary to take balanced diet containing all essential
amino acids. Specific amino acids are known to acutely
and chronically regulate insulin secretion from pancreatic
β-cells in vivo and in vitro (Lorraine et al., 2006). Amino
acids are categorized as acidic, basic and neutral amino
acids. Some amino acids are not synthesized in the body
and it is necessary to take them in diet. Such types of
amino acids are called essential amino acids. Some
amino acids are synthesized in the body and there is no
needs to take them in diet, such type of amino acids are
called non essential amino acids. Some amino acids are
synthesized in the body but their production is insufficient
such type of amino acids are called semi-essential amino
acids (Hellwinkel, 2001; IUPAC-IUB, 1968). Amino acids
help in tissue protein formation. Some amino acids are
involved in enzyme formation. Hormones like insulin,
growth hormone and glucagon are made up of amino
acids. Adrenaline, nor-adrenaline and thyroxin are made
up of single amino acid. Glutathione, a physiologically
active peptide is also made up of amino acids. Amino
acids are involved in synthesis of melanin. It has been
studied that amino-acid balance in cancer patients often
differs from that in healthy individuals, because of
metabolic changes (Jun et al., 2010). In liver cirrhosis
functions of dendritic cells (DCs) are impaired and
cirrhotic patients may show decreased levels of plasma
branched-chain amino acids (Eiji et al., 2007).
Glutamic acid
It is an acidic amino acid. It helps in synthesis of
glutathione. It is converted to alpha ketoglutaric acid in
transamination reactions.

GABA

*Corresponding author. E-mail: makram_0451@hotmail.com. It is called gamma amino butyric acid. It is formed from
Tel: 92-021-6440083. Fax: 92-021-6440079. glutamic acid. It is a neurotransmitter.
3998 J. Med. Plant. Res.

Tyrosine AMINO ACIDS IN PLANTS

Tyrosine is usually used in synthesis of thyroid Amino acids are present in plant and form protein. Plants
hormones. It is also utilized to form synthesize amino acids from the carbon and oxygen that
Dihydroxyphenylalanine, noradrenaline and adrenaline. is obtained from air and hydrogen from water in the soil.
Amino acids play important role to increase yield and
overall quality of crops. Amino acids are absorbed
Cysteine through stomas in plants. It has been observed that
amino acids influence the physiological activities of the
It is a sulpher containing amino acid. It is obtained from plant. Plant mutants for amino acid transporter genes are
methionine. now being used to study the physiological functions of
many of the cloned genes (Wolf et al., 1998).

Dopa
Dopa is a neurotransmitter. It is converted to dopamine.
Dopamine deficiency results in parkinsonism.
Tryptophan
Tryptophan is produced from Niacin. Niacin deficiency
results in pellagra.
Proline
Proline is an amino acid that is hydroxylated to
hydroxyproline in presence of vitamin c. If vitamin c
deficiency occurs. It leads to a disease condition called
Scurvy. Scurvy is characterized by swollen gums and
bleeding upon pressing the gums.
Amino acid and GABA content in different cultivars
of Momordica charantia L.
A study was carried out to determine the variability of
amino acid levels including gamma-aminobutyric acid
(GABA) in six cultivars of bitter melon (Momordica
charantia L.) of different countries. Nikko and Peacock
from Japan, Galaxy and Verde Buenas from Philippines
and two native cultivars from China and Korea were
selected for study. Cultivars varied considerably in the
amounts of different amino acids Table 1. It was
concluded that bitter melon cultivars varies in the amount
of different amino acids and GABA and is a good source
of amino acids and GABA in the development of food
supplements (Yong et al., 2009).
Role of plasma amino acids in alcoholic and non-
alcoholic fatty liver disease

Glycine It has been observed that alcohol interferes with the

Glycine is helpful in formation of bile acids. It combines
with colic acid to form glycocholate. It converts benzoic
acid to hippuric acid in the liver. It is also a component of
glutathione. It is utilized in biosynthesis of creatine, heme
and purines.
Citrulline
action of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) and other
neurotransmitters. As alcohol metabolism occurs in liver,
therefore a pilot study was carried out to monitor the
patterns of changes in plasma amino-acid
concentrations. Plasma amino acids concentration
changes were monitored in alcoholic and non alcoholic
fatty liver. In this study, it was concluded that alcoholic
liver disease presented a more deranged plasma amino
acid pattern than nonalcoholic (Mukherjee et al., 2010).

It is a necessary component of urea cycle where it is

formed from ornithine and carbamoyl phosphate in
presence of an enzyme called ornithine transferase.
Citrulline combines with aspartate and form
arginosuccinate in urea cycle.
Ornithine
It is also a component of urea cycle. It is formed from
arginine by action of arginase. During this reaction urea
synthesis occurs and carbon dioxide is produced.
Phenylketonuria
Normally phenylalanine is converted to tyrosine. If there
is deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase, phenylalanine
is not converted to tyrosine. As a result alternative
catabolites are produced. These catabolites are phenyl
acetate and phenyl lactate. Phenyl acetate is conjugated
with glutamine and excreted as phenyl acetyl glutamine
in urine producing mouse odour in urine. Accumulation of
phenyl alanine leads to defective serotonin formation,
impaired melanin formation, children that are affected

Table 1. Amino acids classification.
Essential amino acids Non essential amino acids
Lysine Cysteine
Methionine Tyrosine
Valine Serine
Tryptophan Alanine
Isoleucine Asparagines
Histidine Aspartic acid
Phenylalanine Glutamic acid
Threonine Glycine
Leucine Hydroxylysine
Arginine Proline
with this disease have fair hair and fair skin and are
mentally retarded, other features include seizure,
psychosis and eczema.
Albinism
It is an inherited disorder that occurs due to deficiency of
enzyme tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is involved in synthesis of
melanin. Due to deficiency of melanin, patient becomes
white.
Alkaptonuria
It is a genetic disorder that occurs due to deficiency of
homogentisic acid oxidase. In this disease, accumulation
of homogentisic acid occurs in the body. Manifestations
of this disease include dark urine and generalized
pigmentation of connective tissues.
DISCUSSION
Some amino acids are ketogenic amino acids that form
ketone bodies. Ketone bodies are chemical substances
that the body forms when there is not enough insulin in
the blood. Ketone bodies are acetoacetate, beta hydroxyl
butyrate and acetone. Ketone bodies are formed in
starvation. Energy is produced from ketone bodies in
starvation. One acetoacetate give two acetyl Co A. When
one acetyl Co. A enters TCA cycle, it produces 12 ATP.
Glucogenic amino acids form glucose. Gluconeogenesis
is a process in which glucose is formed from non
carbohydrate substances. Tryptophan is an essential
amino acid, containing indole ring in its structure. It is
essential part of some proteins. Tryptophan produces
serotonin. Increase serotonin level elevates the mood
and decrease level causes depression. In the body 60
mg of tryptophan produces 1 mg of Niacin. Niacin
deficiency results in pellagra. Sign and symptoms of
Pellagra include diarrhea, dementia and dermatitis. Some
Akram et al. 3999
Special amino acids
GABA
DOPA
Citrulline
Ornithine
Taurine
amino acids help in formation of enzymes that catalyze
the chemical reaction (Usdin et al., 1967). Mutations in
the neutral amino acid transporter B0AT1 causes
Hartnup disorder. It is an autosomal recessive disorder.
Iminoglycinuria is a multigene disorder. The proton amino
acid transporters PAT1 and PAT2, the IMINO transporter
and the glycine transporter XT2 play important roles in
the resorption of glycine and proline. Recent research in
the cloning and identification of epithelial amino acid
transporters provides basis for the identification of genes
that are involved in Hartnup disorder and Iminoglycinuria.
Sequence analysis of these genes is currently in
progress (Stefan, 2006). A study was carried out to
measure amino acid contents in the brains of patients
with dominantly inherited cerebellar disorders. In these
patients, clinical sign and symptoms were similar but
biochemically different disorders were observed. In one
disorder, moderate reduction of aspartate and glutamate
contents in cerebellar cortex was observed. In a second
disorder, aspartate and glutamate were reduced
markedly in cerebellar cortex and other brain areas. In
third disorder, aspartate and glutamate contents were
normal in cerebellar cortex. In this study, it was
concluded that reduction in amino acid content probably
imply loss of specific cerebellar neurons (Thomas et al.,
1981).
CONCLUSION
Amino acids are necessary for protein synthesis and
have various functions in the body. It is necessary to take
them in the diet because their deficiency results in
decrease formation of protein or protein is not formed as
a result protein deficiency may occur. It is concluded that
amino acid play important role in our body.
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