Biosynthesis Of Amino acids and Nutritional Classification Of Amino acids.

Amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins. They contain an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), a hydrogen atom, and a distinctive side chain (R group) attached to a central carbon atom (α-carbon). There are 20 standard amino acids commonly found in proteins, each with a unique side chain that determines its chemical properties and role in protein structure and function. These amino acids can be categorized based on the nature of their side chains: nonpolar, polar, acidic, or basic. Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained through diet, while non-essential amino acids can be synthesized by the body.

1. BIOSYNTHESIS OF AMINO ACIDS S. Nahidha Begum II. M.Sc Microbiology Sacred Heart College

2. BIOSYNTHESIS OF AMINO ACIDS Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both an amine group (-NH₂) and a carboxyl group (-COOH), along with a distinctive side chain Nutritional Classification of Amino Acids Nutritionally Amino acids are classified into three types. They are Essential Amino acids Non-essential Amino acids Semi-essential Amino acids

3. 1. Essential Amino Acids (Indispensable Amino Acids): These amino acids cannot be synthesized by the human body and must be obtained through diet. List of Essential Amino Acids: Valine Isoleucine Leucine Lysine Methionine Phenylalanine Threonine Tryptophan The importance of these amino acids in the diet was first described by William Cumming Rose.

4. 2. Non-Essential Amino Acids (Dispensable Amino Acids): These amino acids can be synthesized by the human body and are not required in the diet. List of Non-Essential Amino Acids: Glycine Alanine Serine Cysteine Aspartate Asparagine Glutamate Glutamine Tyrosine Proline

5. 3. Semi-Essential Amino Acids : These amino acids are synthesized by adults but not sufficiently by growing children and thus are required in the diet for children. List of Semi-Essential Amino Acids: Arginine Histidine

6. Biosynthesis of Amino Acids Amino acids are crucial for protein biosynthesis. Certain microorganisms, like Escherichia coli, have the enzymes needed to synthesize all amino acids using basic starting materials such as glucose and inorganic salts. Organisms capable of synthesizing amino acids can do so either directly or indirectly from intermediates of carbohydrate metabolism. All amino acids are derived from intermediates in key metabolic pathways: Glycolysis, the Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle), or the Pentose Phosphate Pathway. The Krebs Cycle is a significant source of intermediates (precursors) for amino acid synthesis. The process of converting an acid to an amino acid by adding an amine group is known as amination. When the amine group is derived from an existing amino acid, the process is called transamination.

7. Biosynthesis of Amino acids

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