methionine

American  

[me-thahy-uh-neen, -nin] / mɛˈθaɪ əˌnin, -nɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. an amino acid, CH 3 SCH 2 CH 2 CH(NH2 )COOH, found in casein, wool, and other proteins or prepared synthetically: used as a supplement to a special diet in the prevention and treatment of certain liver diseases. Met; M

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methionine British  

/ -ˌnaɪn, mɛˈθaɪəˌniːn /

noun

1. an essential amino acid containing sulphur, which occurs in many proteins: important in methylating reactions

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methionine Scientific  

/ mə-thī′ə-nēn′ /

1. An essential amino acid. Chemical formula: C ₅ H ₁₁ NO ₂ S.

2. See more at amino acid

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Etymology

Origin of methionine

First recorded in 1925–30; blend of methyl and thionine ( def. )

Example Sentences

Because vegetarians and vegans avoid animal products, they naturally consume less methionine and cysteine than people who regularly eat meat.

From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2026

To promote these reactions, alternative meat developers will add browning agents, including specific amino acids such as cysteine, methionine and lysine, sugars and the vitamin thiamin.

From Salon • Nov. 25, 2024

Because F. nucleatum needs methionine to produce polyamine, this enhanced polyamine production activates its methionine salvage pathway, which in turn results in increased CH3SH production.

From Science Daily • Feb. 15, 2024

In addition to specifying the amino acid methionine, it also serves as the start codon to initiate translation.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Beans have both lysine and tryptophan, but not the amino acids cysteine and methionine, which are provided by maize.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann