essential amino acid

American  

noun

Biochemistry.

1. any amino acid that is required by an animal for growth but that cannot be synthesized by the animal's cells and must be supplied in the diet.

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Etymology

Origin of essential amino acid

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Two key factors determine the quality of a protein: its essential amino acid content and how well it is digested and absorbed.

From Salon • Sep. 18, 2024

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in many protein-rich foods, including meats, fish, dairy products, and certain seeds and nuts.

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2024

“The essential amino acid makeup of the synthetic milk is going to be identical to real milk,” Jimenez-Flores says.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2015

If a particular essential amino acid is not available in sufficient quantities in the amino acid pool, however, synthesis of proteins containing it can slow or even cease.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The gene's specific job is to produce a protein that enables cells to utilize an essential amino acid called tryptophan.

From Time Magazine Archive