Amino Acids

Amino acids are the structural units of proteins and are so named for containing both an amino and a carboxylic acid group. While there are hundreds of naturally occurring amino acids, a core set of 20 comprises the standard genetic code used in protein translation. These are histidine, leucine, valine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, tyrosine. Amino acids perform many varied functions in the body, including protein biosynthesis, physiological regulation, neurotransmitter biosynthesis, immune signaling, and cell growth regulation. Amino acid reagents are also commonly used in research. For example, unmodified amino acid monomers are used in cell culture as supplements or inducers. Amino acid derivatives include modified amino acids that can be used for protein synthesis, enzyme inhibition, cellular signaling, and more.