AMINO ACIDS

 AMINO ACIDS 

Amino acids are organic compounds that unite to form the complex molecule of a protein. Each amino acid contains a carboxyl group (-COOH), an amine group (NH,) along with a side chain (R group) specific to each amino acid. There are about 500 amino acids present in nature. Of these only 20 are used in genetic code. The amino acids are joined together with a primary linkage called a peptide bond. In a peptide bond, the carboxyl group (COOH) of one amino acid bonds with the amine group (NH₂) of another. One loses a hydrogen and oxygen from its carboxyl group (COOH) and the other loses a hydrogen from its amino group (NH). This reaction produces a molecule of water (H,O) and two amino acids joined by a peptide bond (-CO-NH-). The two joined amino acids are called a dipeptide.

Amino acids join together to form larger molecules called peptides and as more reacts with peptides, they form polypeptides. Formation of proteins: Amino Acid→ Oligopeptide → Polypepties → Peptones → Proteosis → Protein For example - Insulin is made up of 51 amino acids, amylin is 37 residue peptide hormone, glucagon is a 29 amino acid polypeptide, Ghrelin is a 28-amino acid polypeptide, and oxytocin is a nonapeptide (that is made up of 9 amino acids)

Formation of proteins: Amino Acid? Oligopeptide? Polypepties? Peptones? Proteosis? Protein

Classification of amino acids

Amino acids are classified into three groups:

Essential amino acids

Nonessential amino acids

Conditional amino acids

ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS

Essential amino acids cannot be made by the body. As a result, they must come from food.

The 9 essential amino acids are: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

NON ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS

Nonessential means that our bodies produce an amino acid, even if we do not get it from the food we eat.Nonessential amino acids include: alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine.

CONDITIONAL AMINO ACIDS

Conditional amino acids are usually not essential, except in times of illness and stress.

Conditional amino acids include: arginine, cysteine, glutamine, tyrosine, glycine, ornithine, proline, and serine.

Role of amino acid in our body 

The nine essential amino acids perform a number of important and varied jobs in your body

1. Phenylalanine: Phenylalanine is a precursor for the neurotransmitiers tyrosine (The body converts phenylalanine to tyrosine, which is necessary for specific brain functions), dopamine, epinephrine and sorepinephrine. It plays an integral role in the structure and function of proteins and croymes and the production of other amino acids.

2. Threonine: Threonine is a principal part of structural proteins such as collagen and elastin, which are important components of the skin and connective tissue. It is a component in tooth enamel. It also plays a role in fat metabolism and immune function and may be beneficial for poople with indigestion, anxiety, and mild depression.

3. Tryptophan: Though often associated with causing drowsiness, tryptophan has many other functions It's needed to maintain proper nitrogen balance and is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates your appetite, sleep and mood. It also helps to produce melatonin which also regulates sleep. Tryptophan is a sedative, and it is an ingredient in some sleep aids.

4. Methionine: Methionine plays an important role in metabolism and detoxification. It's also necessary for tissue growth and the absorption of zinc and selenium, minerals that are vital to your health. Methionine and the nonessential amino acid cysteine play a role in the health and flexibility of skin and hair. It also helps keep your nails strong

5. Lysine: Lysine plays major roles in protein synthesis, hormone and enzyme production and the absorption of calcium. It's also important for energy production, immune function and the production of collagen and elastin, aiding recovery from injury or surgery. It may also have antiviral effects.

6. Histidine: Histidine is used to produce histamine, a neurotransmitter that is vital to immune response, digestion, sexual function and sleep-wake cycles. It's critical for maintaining the myelin sheath, a protective barrier that surrounds your nerve cells. Some studies on recruited women with obesity and metabolic syndrome suggest that histidine supplements may lower BMI and insulin resistance.

7. 8. & 9. Valine Leucine and Isoleucine: These 3 are the part of a branched-chain amino acids, meaning they have a chain branching off to one side of its molecular structure. They help to stimulate muscle growth and regeneration and are involved in energy production.

Benefits of supplementation of Amine Acide:

• The three branched-chain resential amino acals helps to delay fatigue and muncle sorenese, impronperformance and stimulate muscle recovery after exercise

• Branched chain amino acids may promote weight loss according to some studies.

• Essential amino acida may prevent muscle breakdown and preserve lean body mans

• Tryptophan in a precursor of serotonin, a chemical that acts as a neurotransmitter in your body which regulates mood, sleep and behaviours

Side Effects

Excess of amino acids can lead to- Gastrointestinal distress, such as bloating

Abdominal pain

Increased risk of gout (build-up of uric acid in the body)

Diarrhoca

Drop in blood pressure Changed eating patterns

Need for your kidneys to work harder to maintain balance

Ammal-based foods such as meat, milk, fish, and eggs and plant-based foods such as soy, beans, mats, and grains are the dietary sources of essential amino acids

Dosage: The US secommended daily allowances per 1 kg of body weight for the nine essential amino acids ary

Amino Acid.             Amount ( in MG)

Histidine.                  14

Isoleucine.                19

Leucine.                    42

Lysine.                      38

Methionine (+Non-essential cysteine)    19

Phenylalanine (+Non-essential amino acid Tyrosine)                       33

Threonine.               20

Tryptophan.              05

Valine.                        24