AMINO ACIDS

Course objectives

 Be able to understand the importance of amino

acids
 Be able to classify amino acids and their functions in
the body
 DEFINITIONS

 the basic building blocks of the body

 sources of energy, like fats and carbohydrates.
 structurally characterized by the fact that they
contain nitrogen(N).
 capable of forming tissues, organs, muscles, skin and
hair.
 regulates almost all of the metabolic processes in
the human body
 they are essential for a healthy body
 IMPORTANT FEATURES

 Characteristically isolated as white crystalline ionic solids

 with high melting points
 poor solubility in organic solvents
 moderately soluble in water
Acid-base properties of amino acids
 Amino acids

 Contain two characteristic functional groups:

 the α-carboxyl group has a pKa around 2.0-2.4
 the α-amino group has a pKa around 9.0-9.7
Classification of amino acids
 ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS
AMINO ACIDS ABBREVIATION 3-LETTERS ABBREVIATION 1-LETTER

1. HISTIDINE His H

2. ISOLEUCINE Ile I

3. LEUCINE Leu L

4. LYSINE Lys K

5. METHIONINE Met M

6. PHENYLALANINE Phe F

7. THREONINE Thr T

8. TRYPTOPHAN Trp W

9. VALINE Val V
NON-ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS

AMINO ACID ABBREVIATION 3-LETTER ABBREVIATION 1-LETTER

1. ALANINE Ala A

2. ARGININE Arg R

3. ASPARTIC ACID Asp D

4. CYSTEINE Cys C

5. GLUTAMIC ACID Glu E

NON-ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS

AMINO ACID ABBREVIATION 3-LETTER ABBREVIATION 1-LETTER

6. GLUTAMINE Gln Q

7. GLYCINE Gly G

8. PROLINE Pro P

9. SERINE Ser S

10. TYROSINE Tyr Y

11. ASPARAGINE Asn N

Glutathione
-is a tripeptide composed of glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid.
-it is important antioxidant in our body.
-It is produced by the liver and involved in many body processes.
 HEALTH BENEFITS--FIGHT ARTHRITIS
 METHIONINE
 sulfur containing amino
acid that promotes the
development of cartilage
tissue.
 major advantage: there
are no side effects
 sources: fish, meat, brazil
nuts, soy and sesame
seeds
 should be taken with
vitamin B12 and folic acid
 ARGININE
 supports the immune
system and can promote
the healing of
inflammatory processes.
 improves circulation and
can help to transfer
micronutrients to the joints
 sources: dairy products
and meat
 boosted through eating -
seafoods, soybeans,
oatmeal and nuts
HEALTH BENEFITS--FIGHT ARTHRITIS

 GLUCOSAMINE
 important constituent of
cartilage
 helping to rebuild cartilage
 help
to reduce pain, improve
mobility, and decrease swelling
and stiffness.
HEALTH BENEFITS-- INSOMNIA

 TRYPTOPHAN
 treat sleep disorders, especially in children
 thisis due to the ability of the amino acid to
stimulate, the synthesis of serotonin,which is
required for the neurotransmitter to induce
sleep.
 HEALTH BENEFITS-- MENOPAUSE

a normal stage in a women's life

that marks the end of menstruation.
 ARGININE- to reduce negative side
effects such as hot flushes
 LYSINE-
reduce the body's
absorption of arginine into cells
HEALTH BENEFITS-- ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

 inabilityto have to have an erection

sufficient for sexual intercourse.

 ARGININE-based supplements can

treat ED sustainably without side
effects.
HEALTH BENEFITS -- SKIN AND HAIR

 LYSINE
 works
particularly well for partial and
advanced baldness
 CARNITINE
 supports fat metabolism
 makesskin look healthier, because it helps
improve fat burning.
 HEALTH BENEFITS-- ANTI INFLAMMATION

 GLUTAMINE
 has important antioxidant  CYSTEINE-
properties and can help reduce naturally and
inflammation effectively fight
hair loss
 GLYCINE
 help treat patients with chronic
pain syndromes associated with  ARGININE,
inflammation. CARNITINE,
 poultry,seaweed,ham and lima GLUTATHIONE
beans
 increase Male
fertility
HEALTH BENEFITS-- ANTI INFLAMMATION

 PHENYLALANINE
 occurs naturally in the breast
milk of mammals
 THREONINE
 usedin treatments for nervous
system disorders
 ARGININE

 USES:
 CHEST PAIN(Angina)
 ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION (ED) 5 grams daily
 HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
 Inflammation of the digestive tract in premature infants
 Improving recovery after surgery
 Pre-eclampsia
 Kidney disease
ASPARAGINE

 PROPERTIES
 white crystals
 melting point: 234oC
 boiling point: 438oC
 soluble in acids,bases
 from asparagus juice
 non-essential amino acid
 sources of asparagine

 animal sources: dairy, whey, beef

poultry,eggs,fish,seafood
 plant sources: asparagus, potatoes, legumes,nuts,
seeds,soy,whole grains

 FUNCTIONS
 is required for development and function of
the brain
 plays important role in the synthesis of
ammonia
 ASPARTIC ACID
 Properties:
 colourless crystals  animal sources: oysters,
luncheon meats, sausage
 melting point: 270oC meat
 boiling point: 324oC  vegetable sources:
 acidic amino acid sprouting seeds, oat
 derived from flakes,
asparagine avocado,asparagus,youn
g sugarcane,molasses
 non essential amino from sugar beets
acid
 sweetener aspartame-
NutraSweet,Equal
CYSTEINE

 PROPERTIES  Animal sources:

 white crystals or meat-pork and
powder poultry,eggs,dairy
 melting point:  plant sources: red
240oC
peppers, garlic,
 soluble in water onions, broccoli,
 non essential oats
amino acid
 GLUTAMIC ACID

 PROPERTIES
 involved in cognitive
 white crystalline powder
functions: learning and
 melting point- 199oC memory in the brain
 non essential amino acid  often used as a food
 important excitatory additive and flavor
neurotransmitter- neural enhancer -
activation monosodium
glutamate(MSG)
 GLUTAMINE
 Properties:
 decomposes
 used as component
around 185oC
of oral
 soluble in water supplementation to
 non-essential reverse cachexia
amino acid (muscle wasting)
 most abundant patients with
free amino acid advanced cancer or
in human blood HIV/AIDS
 reduced the risk of
systemic infections
 Dietary sources

 beef, chicken, fish, eggs, milk,

dairy products, wheat,
cabbage, beets, beans,
spinach, and parsley
 vegetable juices-small amount
GLYCINE

 Properties:
 colourless,sweet-tasting crystalline solid
 smallest of the 20 amino acids
 soluble in water,pyridine
 sparingly soluble in ethanol
 insoluble in ethanol
uses of Glycine

 for intravenous injections

 agent in metal complexing and finishing
 additive in pet food and animal feed
 as sweetener/enhancer
 to improve gastric absorption of the drug
 as a buffering agent in
antacids,analgesics,antiperspirants-cosmetics
ENZYMES