20 Common Amino Acids: Definition, Structure, List, and Applications

Amino acids, peptides and proteins are important molecules that constitute living systems. Amino acids are the basic units of proteins, linked together by peptide bonds to form peptide chains, and multiple peptide chains make up proteins. Protein is one of the most basic and important molecules in living systems and has a wide range of biological functions, such as structural support, catalytic reactions, signal transmission, etc. Peptides are smaller protein molecules composed of less than 50 amino acids. They are usually precursors or analogs of proteins and have certain biological activities. Therefore, there is a close relationship between peptides, amino acids and proteins. Together they constitute the basic molecules of the living system and play an important role in the normal life activities of the human body.

What are the 20 Amino Acids?

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are essential for various biological processes in the body. There are 20 common amino acids in proteins, each with its own unique structure and function. These amino acids can be divided into two categories: essential amino acids and non-essential amino acids. 20 kinds of amino acids are the basic units that constitute human proteins. They can be divided into three categories: non-polar, polar and acidic/basic. These amino acids play different roles in protein synthesis and repair, and are important in the life activities of the human body.

• Nonpolar amino acids include Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Cysteine, Proline, Leucine, lsoleucine, Methionine, Trytophan, Phenylalanine.
• Polar amino acids include Serine, Threonine, Tyrosine, Asparagine, and Glutamine.
• Positively charged amino acids include: Lysine, Arginine, and Histidine.
• Negatively charged amino acids include: Aspartic Acid and Glutamic Acid.

20 Amino Acids Structures and Names

• Alanine

Alanine (C3H7NO) is one of the first amino acids synthesized. As early as the early 19th century, scientists began to try to synthesize amino acids, but the synthesis of alanine was successfully completed in the 1880s by the German chemist Hermann Emil Keller. Keller used urea as raw material and produced alanine through the reaction of hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde. This discovery laid the foundation for subsequent research on amino acid synthesis. With the development of science and technology, scientists have conducted in-depth exploration of the structure and function of alanine. The structure of alanine is similar to other amino acids, consisting of amino groups, carboxyl groups and side chains. Its unique structure enables alanine to have important physiological functions in organisms. Research shows that alanine can participate in various life processes such as energy metabolism, protein synthesis, and cell signaling. In addition, alanine also has biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fatigue, and has a positive effect on human health.

Application in food industry: Alanine is an important food additive, often used to improve the taste, flavor and shelf life of food.

Application in pharmaceutical industry: Alanine is an intermediate in the synthesis of many drugs, such as antidepressants, anti-epileptic drugs, etc.

Application in cosmetics industry: Alanine is often used in the production of skin care products and cosmetics because of its moisturizing, antioxidant and whitening effects.

Application in agricultural field: Alanine can be used as a raw material for plant growth regulators and pesticides, helping to improve the yield and quality of crops.

• Arginine

Arginine (C6H14N4O2) is an important amino acid that has various physiological functions in the human body. The history of arginine can be traced back to the early 19th century, when scientists began to study the composition and structure of proteins and discovered that they contained a new amino acid, arginine. The first scientist to discover arginine was French chemist Henri Braconnot, who isolated arginine from eggs in 1820. Subsequently, other scientists gradually discovered the existence of arginine and began to study its physiological functions. With the continuous development of science and technology, people's research on arginine is becoming more and more in-depth. Now, arginine has become a very important nutrient and is widely used in sports, medical care, food additives and other fields.

Arginine is an important metabolite that is produced by metabolism in the liver and kidneys.

Arginine promotes protein synthesis, which is important for muscle growth and repair.

Arginine can also improve human immunity, promote blood circulation, and improve cardiovascular health.

• Aspartic Acid

Aspartic acid (C4H7NO4) is a naturally occurring amino acid originally discovered in malt by German chemist Eilhardt Fauck in the late 18th century. However, aspartic acid at that time was only part of the malt extract and was not isolated separately. It was not until the end of the 19th century that Swedish chemist Theodor Curtius successfully isolated this amino acid from protein hydrolyzate.

Application in cell metabolism: Aspartic acid plays an important role in cell metabolism. It is one of the raw materials for the synthesis of purine bases and pyrimidine bases, and is essential for the synthesis of DNA and RNA. In addition, aspartic acid is also involved in the synthesis of important antioxidant substances such as glutathione.

Application in nutritional supplements: Because aspartic acid plays important roles in promoting growth and development, maintaining muscle function, and participating in energy metabolism, it is widely used in nutritional supplements. Many athletes and fitness enthusiasts use aspartic acid as part of a nutritional supplement to help recover from muscle fatigue and enhance athletic performance.

Applications in the pharmaceutical industry: Aspartic acid is also widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. It is used as a raw material for synthetic drugs, such as synthetic antibiotics, anti-tumor drugs, and anti-cardiovascular disease drugs. In addition, aspartic acid is also used in the preparation of medical and health products such as amino acid infusions and amino acid mixed drinks.

• Asparagine

The history of the development of asparagine (C4H8N2O3) can be traced back to 1806, when French chemists isolated a compound from asparagus that later became known as asparagine, which was the first amino acid to be discovered. This discovery immediately sparked scientific interest in the building blocks of life as a whole and prompted a search for other amino acids.

Application in chemistry: The synthesis and properties of asparagine have always been the focus of attention. Its structure has characteristic double bonds and amide groups, giving it unique chemical reactivity. Therefore, many organic and medicinal chemistry studies involve the synthesis and properties of asparagine.

Application in biologically: Asparagine, as an amino acid, participates in the protein synthesis process. It is a component of many biological macromolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, etc. In addition, asparagine is also involved in important biological processes such as energy metabolism and cell signaling.

Application in medicine: Asparagine is also widely used. It is an important nutrient and is available as a dietary supplement. In addition, asparagine also plays an important role in drug design and development. Asparagine structures are found in many drug molecules, which are mainly used to treat cancer, neurological diseases, and other diseases.

• Cysteine

Cysteine (C3H7NO2S), discovered in 1810, is one of the earliest amino acids discovered. It was originally isolated from egg yolks and has a stinky odor of mercaptans. In the late 19th century, researchers became interested in the biological applications of cysteine. Initially, cysteine was thought to be a sulfur-containing amino acid, but was later shown to be a thiol-containing amino acid.

Due to the important physiological role of cysteine in the human body, it is widely used in clinical treatments. For example, supplementing cysteine can be used as one of the antioxidant treatments to reduce the damage of oxidative stress to the human body. In addition, cysteine is also used to treat some genetic diseases and cancer. In some cases, increasing cysteine intake through dietary and lifestyle modifications is an effective treatment.

• Glutamine

Glutamine (C5H10N2O3) is an important amino acid that was first synthesized in 1900. It was first discovered in the secretions of the pancreas and has since been found in abundant concentrations in many other tissues, such as brain, bone, and muscle. Glutamine can move in and out freely in the cytoplasm, but changes in its concentration are related to the metabolic state of the cell. When cells are under starvation, infection, or other stress conditions, glutamine consumption increases significantly.

Application in nutrition: Glutamine plays an important role in nutrition. It is a raw material for protein synthesis and the main source of energy in cells. In addition, glutamine can also serve as a reducing agent and participate in intracellular redox reactions. In severe disease states, such as infection, trauma and surgery, the body's demand for glutamine will increase significantly. Therefore, for patients under these conditions, glutamine supplementation can help maintain normal metabolic and immune functions of the body.

Application in disease treatment: In recent years, the application of glutamine in disease treatment has attracted more and more attention. In some cancer patients, glutamine supplementation can improve the patient's nutritional status and immune function and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In addition, glutamine can also be used to treat intestinal diseases, liver diseases, and respiratory diseases. In some cases, glutamine supplementation can also help patients improve survival and quality of life.

Applications in sports nutrition: Glutamine has also been extensively researched and used in sports nutrition. For athletes, glutamine supplementation can help them improve muscle strength and endurance and promote muscle recovery and regeneration. In addition, glutamine can be used to treat muscle atrophy and injury, as well as improve immune function in athletes.

• Glutamic Acid

Glutamic acid (C5H9NO4) is a common amino acid whose discovery dates back to the 1880s. At that time, scientists conducted extensive research on the composition and properties of proteins, including the study of amino acids. In 1886, Dutch scientist E.A.K. Hopkins synthesized an organic compound containing five carbon atoms in the laboratory, which was the predecessor of glutamic acid. Later, this compound was named glutamic acid, which is what we now call glutamic acid.

Applications in the food industry: Glutamic acid has a wide range of applications in the food industry. Due to its umami taste and nutritional value, it is widely used in the production of condiments and food additives. For example, MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid and is widely used in cooking and food processing to enhance the taste and flavor of food. Additionally, glutamate can be used in the production of nutritional supplements and health products.

Application in the pharmaceutical industry: Glutamic acid is also widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. First of all, glutamic acid can be used as a precursor of drugs to help synthesize some important drugs. Second, glutamate is neuroprotective and can help protect neurons from damage. In addition, glutamate can also be used to treat some neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

• Histidine

Histidine (C6H9N3O2) is a common basic amino acid whose discovery dates back to the late 19th century. In 1897, German chemist Leopold Jacob Fischer first isolated histidine from animal tissue. Since then, scientists have conducted extensive research on histidine, including its structure and properties, synthesis methods, and functions in organisms.

Application in protein folding: In recent years, researchers have discovered that histidine plays an important role in protein folding. In some proteins, histidine can form ionic or covalent bonds with other amino acids, thereby affecting the three-dimensional structure of the protein. In addition, histidine is also involved in the phosphorylation process of proteins and has an important impact on protein activity and function.

Applications in the immune system: Histidine also has important functions in the immune system. Research shows that histidine can regulate the activity of immune cells, promote the proliferation and differentiation of white blood cells, and enhance the body's immunity. In addition, histidine can also regulate immune responses by affecting the secretion of cytokines.

Applications in biochemistry: Histidine is of great value in biochemical research. First of all, histidine is an important nutrient that plays an important role in maintaining normal physiological functions of the body. Secondly, histidine can be used as a drug precursor to help synthesize some important drugs. In addition, histidine can also be used to study biochemical processes such as redox reactions and phosphorylation reactions in organisms.

Applications in the medical field: Histidine is also widely used in the medical field. First of all, histidine can be used as a nutritional supplement to help supplement the amino acids needed by the human body. Secondly, histidine can be used to treat some diseases, such as anemia, malnutrition, etc. In addition, histidine can also be used to prepare biological products such as vaccines and antibodies.

For more types of common amino acids, refer to The Twenty Amino Acids: Name, Classifications, Chart, Applications.

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