Fast facts about Amino acids

  • Amino acids are molecules containing an amine group, a carboxylic acid group and a side chain that varies between different amino acids.
  • Amino acids are part of the enzyme and hormonal system
  • The molecules in amino acids contain the key elements of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
  • Just as the letters of the alphabet can be combined to form an almost endless variety of words, amino acids can be linked together in varying sequences to form a vast variety of proteins.
  • The first amino acids were discovered in the early 19th century. In 1806, the French chemists Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin and Pierre Jean Robiquet isolated a compound in asparagus that proved to be asparagine, the first amino acid to be discovered.
  • Amino acids carry oxygen throughout the body and participate in muscle activity.
  • Due to their central role in biochemistry, amino acids are very important in nutrition and are commonly used in food technology and industry.
  • They are found to be extremely useful in weight control, depression fighting, muscle building, proper hormonal activity
  • Amino acids are necessary for growth and cellular replication throughout the body.
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