Proteins are made up of long chains of building blocks called amino acids. The sequence of the amino acid is characteristic to a particular protein and this determines its function. There are twenty or more amino acids - some of which are essential some non-essential.
Essential and non-essential amino acids
'Essential' means that the body cannot produce the specific amino acid and has to take them in from outside sources - either through food or supplements. Non-essential amino acids can be made by the body but can also be obtained from the diet.
The essential amino acids are:
Leucine
Isoleucine
Lysine
Methionine (and its related compound cystine)
Phenylalanine
Threonine
Tryptophan
Valine
In infants histidine is also essential.
The non-essential
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Functional proteins - these include hormones such as insulin and thyroid hormone, digestive enzymes, and antibodies.
Amino acids themselves are used not only in proteins but also other molecules such as neurotransmitters (chemical that transmit electrical nerve impulses in the brain). It can be seen that there are many important functions performed by amino acids.
Therapeutic uses of amino acids
We tend to think of vitamins and mineral and essential fatty acids as being the major nutritional supplements, however, amino acids can also be used to provide therapeutic benefit.
In certain diseases there may be increased demands for certain types of proteins and if these proteins are high in one particular amino acid then the requirements for that amino acid may well be increased - an perhaps not satisfied by the diet alone. In other conditions there is a disturbance in the metabolism of a particular amino acid.
Some pharmaceutical drugs can affect amino acid metabolism. For example anti-inflammatory drugs used in the treatment of arthritis affects the metabolism of tryptophan.
Below is a list of some of the ways that amino acids have been
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There is an association between the level of tryptophan in the blood and arthritis. High levels of tryptophan are also found in jaundice. It has also been used in depression, particularly if insomnia is present. Oestrogen containing oral contraceptives interfere with the normal metabolism of tryptophan (this may be because of their effect in vitamin B6 which is essential for the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin.)
Histidine - has been used in rheumatoid arthritis - low levels of histidine has been found in the blood of those with rheumatoid arthritis
Tyrosine - like tryptophan and phenylalanine has been used in the treatment of depression. This amino acid is essential for the synthesis of substances called catecholamines (these include dopamine and noradrenaline) and some people who are depressed have low levels of these compounds.
It is likely that more and more uses for amino acids will become evident as research progresses.
Proteins (which contain amino acids) are essential requirement in our diet. Amino acids, essential and non-essential, are needed for the body's structural component - bones, muscle and connective tissue and for functional aspects such as hormones and other chemicals. The range of therapeutic used for which amino acids are used is still somewhat limited it is likely that the uses will expand as we learn more about the role that amino acids play in maintaining
a. Proteins- macromolecules made of amino acids. Proteins have many functions in the body. Some sources of proteins are whole-grain cereals, dark breads,rice, beans, and meat.
Amino acids can be used to synthesize proteins for cellular structure; for energy; and to synthesize proteins that function in various body processes.
Amino Acids are essential nutrients that are the primary building blocks of proteins found in meat, dairy products, and legumes. Proteins make up 20 percent of the human body, and the amino acids that make up these proteins play a critical
The diverse roles of amino acids: 1. Hormones (signaling type molecules) Dopamine, thyroid type hormones 2. Metabolic Intermediates Catabolic amino acids Citrulline: key intermediate in the urea acid cycle, the pathway by which mammals excrete ammonia. Ornithine: in urea acid cycle, precursor to arginine, disposal of nitrogen. 3. Osmotic effects (Osmolytes- organic compounds affecting osmosis, soluble in solution within a cell, play a role in maintaining cell volume and fluid balance.) Ex: Antarctic fish utilize stores of amino acids to offset preservations of different ions. 4. Buffering Capacity Zwitterion (means twin in German): A zwitterion is a chemical compound that is electrically neutral but carries formal positive and negative charges on different atoms. Zwitterions are polar and usually have a high solubility in water and a poor solubility in most organic solvents. o Often times the R group is charged. Ex: Histidine (essential amino acid) the R group has a charge, pKa at pH 7.4. Modest change in pH results in change in charge; many proteins have a Histidine residue sitting in the active site. Changes ability to interact with substrate, which causes a profound change in kinetics.
Proteins are molecules containing amino acids, which our body and cells need to keep our bodies functioning properly. Body structure, functions and regulates the body's cells, tissues
Amino acid dietary supplements are principal, exceptionally now that the "normal" weight loss program lacks nutrients and good protein. Protein deficiency is in charge for lack of muscle tone. By practicing amino acid body building by means of exercise and supplements, you can look ahead to a sharper, fitter and higher watching body in no
Branched-chain amino acids help decrease exercise-induced muscle damage, increase muscle recovery and regulate protein synthesis. They are also very essential in reducing fatigue. This means that you will be able to train at a higher intensity for a prolonged period.
Carbohydrate is a nutrient essential for energy production and the prevention of ketosis, a state where the production of ketones exceeds metabolism. Protein is a nutrient essential for its components, amino acids. Fat is a nutrient which provides insulation, protection and energy for the body.
Living organisms need proteins in their diet to help the body repair cells and make new ones. The basic structure of protein is a chain of amino acids. When two amino acids join together a dipeptide is formed but when more than two amino acids are joined together a polypeptide is formed. Proteins are made up of one or more polypeptides. Proteins are large molecules made up of the elements hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon. Types of proteins include, structural proteins, contractile proteins, hormones, enzymes, antibodies and transport proteins. Some functions of proteins are movement in muscles, tendons and ligaments. Enzymes make biological reactions possible and hormones regulate metabolism. The protein shape determines its function.Proteins
The right combinations of food help to guarantee that the food an individual consumes is complete in its nutritional content of proteins, such as combining vegetables and grains that separately have incomplete proteins but together provide complete proteins (Grosvenor & Smolin, 2012). Out of the 20 amino acids the human body needs, only 11 of those are produced in the liver. The remaining amino acids must come from protein sources. If the consumption of grain and vegetables continues to occur together complete protein will continue to be part of a healthy diet.
The Functions of Proteins Introduction Protein accounts for about three-fourths of the dry matter in human tissues other than fat and bone. It is a major structural component of hair, skin, nails, connective tissues, and body organs. It is required for practically every essential function in the body. Proteins are made from the following elements; carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and often sulphur and phosphorus.
They are known to be the workhorses of the body cell that carries out diverse catalytic and structural roles into building the structures of all living organisms [15]. The basic structure of protein is a chain of amino acids that supplies energy to a body. There are 20 different naturally occurring amino acids that make all types of protein. Proteins come in various sizes and shapes. Some comes in a thread-like shape known as fibrous proteins and they tend to have structural or mechanical roles. Others come in spherical shapes, known as the globular proteins [16]. These spherical proteins function as enzymes, transport proteins, or antibodies. The key function of protein is based on its ability to recognize and bind specific ally to molecules, it also need to be in the right shape in other to function properly [15]. The primary structure of proteins is a linear sequence of amino acids encoded by DNA. This sequence controls how protein folds into three dimensional structure, the stability of its resulting structure [17], and functions. It is important to add that protein is an important building block of bones, skin, blood and
More often than not, amino acids are reused and used to make new proteins, not oxidized for fuel.However, if there are more amino acids than the body needs, or if cells are starving, some amino acids will get separated for vitality through cell breath. Keeping in mind the end goal to enter cell breath, amino acids should first have their amino gathering evacuated. This progression makes smelling salts as a waste item, and in people and different warm blooded animals, the alkali is changed over to urea and expelled from the body in urine.Once they've been deaminated, diverse amino acids enter the cell breath pathways at various stages. The substance properties of every amino corrosive figure out what middle of the road it can be most effectively changed over
Leucine. This amino acid is unique in its ability to promote protein production in the skeletal muscle system. It is more anabolic in nature than other amino acids, which means it is a potent builder of muscle and protein synthesiser.
Oxidation of these amino acids occurs in skeletal muscles. Though BCAAs are not used as a source of energy in the body under normal conditions, they do contribute to energy generation during heavy and strenuous exercise. The subsequent breakdown of these amino acids for energy generation during heavy exercise leads to muscle damage and tear. Therefore, restoring them with the help of protein supplements is extremely necessary to make up for the loss of proteins.