amino acid

American  

[uh-mee-noh as-id] / əˈmi noʊ ˈæs ɪd /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. any of a class of organic compounds that contains at least one amino group, –NH 2 , and one carboxyl group, –COOH: the alpha-amino acids, RCH(NH2 )COOH, are the building blocks from which proteins are constructed.

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amino acid British  

noun

1. any of a group of organic compounds containing one or more amino groups, -NH 2 , and one or more carboxyl groups, -COOH. The alpha-amino acids RCH(NH 2 )COOH (where R is either hydrogen or an organic group) are the component molecules of proteins; some can be synthesized in the body ( nonessential amino acids ) and others cannot and are thus essential components of the diet ( essential amino acids )

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amino acid Scientific  

1. Any of a large number of compounds found in living cells that contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen, and join together to form proteins. Amino acids contain a basic amino group (NH ₂) and an acidic carboxyl group (COOH), both attached to the same carbon atom. Since the carboxyl group has a proton available for binding with the electrons of another atom, and the amino group has electrons available for binding with a proton from another atom, the amino acid behaves as an acid and a base simultaneously. Twenty of the naturally occurring amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, which they form by being connected to each other in chains. Eight of those twenty, called essential amino acids, cannot be synthesized in the cells of humans and must be consumed as part of the diet. The remaining twelve are nonessential amino acids.

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Etymology

Origin of amino acid

First recorded in 1895–1900

Compare meaning

How does amino-acid compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• nucleic acid vs. amino acid

Example Sentences

They attach to mRNA and travel along it, interpreting the genetic code and linking amino acids to form new proteins.

From Science Daily

AlphaFold predicts the three-dimensional structure of proteins from sequences of amino acids.

From Scientific American

It can be simple — for example, “win as many chess games as possible” — or complicated, like “predict the three-dimensional shapes of proteins, using only their amino acid sequences.”

From New York Times

We now know, however, that there is flexibility when it comes to getting these essential amino acids; a diet that includes a diversity of plant foods will easily give your body what it needs.

From Salon

Gelatin is made almost entirely of protein — 98 to 99% to be exact, per Healthline — and contains several amino acids, including proline and glycine, which both help rebuild tissue that lines the digestive tract.

From Salon