The Twenty Amino Acids: Name, Classifications, Chart, Applications

An amino acid is a compound with an amino group (-NH₂) and a carboxyl group (-COOH) in the molecule. It has a common basic structure and contains complex functional groups, and is the basic unit of protein. Amino acids can be divided into α-, β-, γ-, ω-amino acids according to the different positions of the amino groups on the carbon chain, but the amino acids obtained after protein hydrolysis are all α-amino acids or imino acids. According to their different chemical structures, they can be divided into aliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic amino acids. Amino acids are not only important components of living organisms, but also a type of biochemicals with great development prospects. Since 2017, global amino acid demand has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 5.6%. As the demand for market capacity continues to increase, their scope of application has gradually expanded from animal feed additives, flavor enhancers and cosmetic ingredients to special nutrients in the pharmaceutical and medical fields.

20 Amino Acids

Amino acids are components of proteins and are important components of animal and human nutrition. 20 kinds of amino acids constitute more than 100,000 kinds of proteins. Amino acids are called the source of life. The 20 amino acids that make up proteins are divided into 9 essential amino acids that the human body cannot synthesize and 11 non-essential amino acids that the human body can synthesize. The types of essential amino acids/non-essential amino acids vary depending on the age and physical condition of the living body, but all essential amino acids need to be taken in from food.

Essential amino acids refer to the amino acids that the human body (or other vertebrates) cannot synthesize or the synthesis rate is far from meeting the needs of the body, and must be supplied by food protein. These amino acids are called essential amino acids. There are 9 essential amino acids, namely lysine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, methionine, threonine, isoleucine, leucine, valine, and histidine. Histidine is an essential amino acid for infants and young children.

Nonessential amino acids refer to amino acids that humans (or other vertebrates) can synthesize from simple precursors and do not need to be obtained from food. The 11 non-essential amino acids are: glycine, alanine, arginine, proline, tyrosine, serine, and cystine, asparagine, glutamine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid.

20 Amino Acids List

• Isoleucine

Isoleucine (C6H13NO2) is one of the twenty basic amino acids and is found in the structure of almost all proteins. Its chemical composition is exactly the same as leucine, but the atoms are connected/arranged in a different order and therefore have different properties than leucine. Isoleucine is a hydrophobic amino acid. Isoleucine has two palm centers, so there are four stereoisomers and two diastereomers of L-isoleucine.

Application in protein synthesis: Isoleucine is one of the important amino acids for human protein synthesis. During ribosomal translation, isoleucine is selected as a codon that corresponds to the codon in RNA. By connecting with other amino acids, they form peptide chains and then synthesize various proteins. Therefore, isoleucine is essential for maintaining normal physiological functions of the human body.

Applications in medicine and biotechnology: With the development of medicine and biotechnology, isoleucine has been widely used in many fields. First of all, in medicine, due to the necessity of isoleucine, it is often used to treat diseases lacking certain amino acids. In addition, isoleucine is used in nutritional supplements and to treat certain types of malnutrition. In biotechnology, isoleucine is often used as a fermentation substrate in fermentation engineering. In addition, it also plays an important role in fields such as protein engineering and genetic engineering. The application of these technologies provides more possibilities for the large-scale production and application of isoleucine.

• Glycine

Glycine (C2H5NO2) is the simplest amino acid, and its discovery dates back to the early 19th century. In 1820, French chemist Louis-Joseph Gay-Lussac and his assistant Jean-Baptiste Dumas discovered a new organic compound, glycine, during their research. They named it glycine in recognition of its sweet taste in aqueous solution.

Application in biological experiments: Glycine has wide application value in biological experiments. First of all, as a commonly used buffer component, glycine can be used to adjust pH and maintain the acid-base balance of the experimental system. Secondly, glycine can be used as an inducer of protein crystallization, helping proteins form crystals to facilitate structural analysis and functional research. In addition, glycine is used as a reference in metabolic studies, helping scientists understand how other molecules are metabolized in organisms.

Applications in industry: Glycine is also widely used in industry. First of all, glycine is an important raw material for drug synthesis and is used to prepare various drugs, such as antibiotics, antipyretic analgesics, anti-tumor drugs, etc. Secondly, glycine can be used to synthesize chemical products such as surfactants, paper enhancers, and pesticide dispersants. In addition, glycine can also be used as a food additive to improve the taste and quality of food.

• Leucine

Leucine (C6H13NO2) was first discovered by scientists at the end of the 19th century. At that time, researchers conducted in-depth studies on the composition and properties of proteins, including the study of amino acids. In 1886, Dutch biologist Cornelis Bernardus Wieringa isolated leucine from muscle tissue. Due to its high solubility in water, Dutch chemist Emil Fischer identified leucine as the first "neutral" amino acid to be discovered.

Applications in protein synthesis: Leucine is one of the important amino acids for human protein synthesis. During ribosome translation, leucine is selected as a codon that corresponds to the codon in RNA. By connecting with other amino acids, they form peptide chains and then synthesize various proteins. Leucine plays an important role in maintaining normal physiological functions of the human body.

Application in the medical field: With the development of the medical field, leucine is increasingly used in the medical field. First of all, leucine is used in the synthesis of a variety of drugs, such as antibiotics, anti-tumor drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, etc. Secondly, leucine, as a nutritional supplement, is widely used to treat diseases such as lack of certain amino acids and malnutrition. In addition, leucine can also be used as a drug carrier and biomarker.

• Lysine

Lysine (C6H14N2O2) is one of the first amino acids isolated from protein by humans. At the end of the 19th century, scientists began to study the composition and structure of proteins. In 1883, Dutch scientist Van't Hoff and German scientist Fischer successfully isolated lysine for the first time.

Application in nutrition: Lysine is one of the essential amino acids for the human body and is crucial for the growth, development and health of children. It participates in many important biochemical reactions in the human body, such as cell repair, immune function, nerve conduction, etc. Lysine can also help the body absorb and utilize other essential amino acids, such as histidine, arginine, and tryptophan. Therefore, it is very important to add enough lysine to children's diet.

Applications in the pharmaceutical industry: Lysine is also widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. Lysine can be used as an intermediate in drug synthesis and can also be used to prepare peptide drugs. In addition, lysine can also be used to prepare anti-tumor drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-viral drugs.

Application in agricultural production: Lysine is also widely used in agricultural production. It can be used as a feed additive to help animals absorb and utilize other nutrients. In addition, lysine can also improve the immunity and disease resistance of animals and promote the growth and development of animals.

Applications in the food industry: Lysine is also widely used in the food industry. It can be used as a food additive to improve the nutritional value and taste of food. In addition, lysine can also be used to make bread, biscuits, pastries and other foods.

• Methionine

Methionine (C5H11O2NS) was discovered at the end of the 19th century. In 1884, German chemist Hermann Emil Fischer successfully synthesized methionine for the first time. Methionine has important physiological functions in organisms and is therefore widely used in medicine, agriculture, food industry and other fields. In the medical field, methionine can be used to treat anemia, neural tube defects and other diseases. In agriculture, methionine can be used as a plant growth regulator and pesticide. In the food industry, methionine can be used as a food additive to improve the nutritional value and taste of food.

• Phenylalanine

Phenylalanine (C9H11NO2) was discovered at the end of the 19th century. In 1886, Dutch scientist Hermann Emil Fischer isolated phenylalanine from phenylacetic acid for the first time. Phenylalanine has a wide range of applications in medicine. It can be used as a drug synthesis intermediate for the preparation of a variety of drugs. In addition, phenylalanine can also be used to prepare sweeteners and flavors.

• Proline

Proline (C5H9NO2) was discovered in the early 20th century. In 1900, German scientist Fischer isolated proline from animal collagen for the first time. Proline is widely used in medicine, food, cosmetics and other fields. In the field of medicine, proline is used to treat metabolic diseases such as liver disease, kidney disease, and diabetes, as well as in the preparation of amino acid infusions and nutritional supplements. In the food field, proline is used as a food additive and nutritional fortifier to increase the nutritional value and improve the taste of food. In the cosmetic field, proline is used in moisturizing and anti-aging products to maintain skin's moisture and elasticity.

• Serine

Serine (C3H7NO3) was discovered in the early 20th century. In 1900, German scientist Fischer discovered serine while studying animal collagen.

Applications in disease diagnosis and treatment: Serine has a wide range of applications in disease diagnosis and treatment. On the one hand, changes in serine levels can be used for disease diagnosis. For example, serine levels are often reduced in people with diabetes, while serine levels may be increased in people with neurodegenerative diseases. Serine, on the other hand, can serve as a target for treating certain diseases. For example, blood sugar control in people with diabetes can be improved by supplementing with serine. In addition, some drugs can also treat certain diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancer, by regulating serine levels.

Applications in food and nutritional supplements: Serine is also widely used in food and nutritional supplements. On the one hand, serine can be used as a food additive to improve the taste and nutritional value of food. On the other hand, serine can be used as a nutritional supplement to supplement the amino acids needed by the body. In addition, serine can also be used as a sports nutrition supplement to help athletes improve muscle strength and recovery.

• Threonine

Threonine (C4H9NO3) was discovered in the early 20th century. In 1900, German scientist Fischer discovered threonine while studying variants of glycine. Threonine is widely used in the fields of medicine, food and chemical industry. In the field of medicine, threonine can be used to treat metabolic diseases such as liver disease, kidney disease, and diabetes, and can also be used as a nutritional supplement. In the food field, threonine can be used to improve the taste and nutritional value of food, such as in the production of infant foods and health foods. In the chemical industry, threonine can be used to synthesize other amino acids and chemical products.

• Tryptophan

Tryptophan (C11H12N2O2) was first discovered in 1900 by the German scientist Fischer. While studying the composition of proteins, he discovered a new amino acid and named it tryptophan.

Application in nutritional supplements: Tryptophan is an important nutritional supplement that can promote human health. It is widely used in infant formula, food for the elderly and athletes to enhance their immunity and physical strength. Additionally, tryptophan can improve sleep and reduce stress.

Application in the field of medicine: Tryptophan is also widely used in the field of medicine. It can be used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. In addition, tryptophan can also be used to prevent and treat diseases caused by a lack of serotonin, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Application in agriculture: In agriculture, tryptophan is also widely used in feed to improve animal growth rate and disease resistance. In addition, it can also improve the stress resistance of plants, such as drought resistance and cold resistance. This makes tryptophan an integral part of modern agriculture.

• Tyrosine

At the end of the 19th century, scientists began to study the breakdown and composition of proteins. In 1897, German chemist Ferdinand Otto Wallerstein first isolated tyrosine (C9H11NO3) from casein. In recent years, as people's understanding of tyrosine has deepened, its application in food, medicine, chemical industry and other fields has also received widespread attention. In the food sector, tyrosine is used to make nutritional supplements and functional foods. In the pharmaceutical field, tyrosine and its derivatives are used to treat certain diseases, such as phenylketonuria and Huntington's disease. In the chemical industry, tyrosine is used to synthesize compounds such as spices, dyes and pharmaceuticals.

• Valine

Valine (C5H11NO2) was discovered in the early 20th century. In 1900, German chemist Adolf von Baeyer discovered valine while studying the chemical structure of phenylalanine. Because valine has a variety of important physiological functions, it is also widely used in the medical field. Valine can be used to treat certain diseases, such as liver disease, kidney disease, and neurological diseases. In addition, valine can be used to make nutritional supplements and treat certain genetic diseases.

For more types of common amino acids, refer to 20 Common Amino Acids: Definition, Structure, List, and Applications.

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