At a Glance
Amino acid: References & Edit History
More Articles On This Topic
- bloodPlasma
- bone diseaseMetabolic bone disease
- cellThe structure of biological molecules
- connective tissueExtracellular fibers
- digestionDigestion
- human digestive systemProteins
- enzymeChemical nature
- evolutionMolecular biology and Earth sciences
- evolutionDNA and protein as informational macromolecules
- ExcretionProducts of excretion
- renal systemReabsorption from the proximal tubule
- genetic code
- heredityExpression of the genetic code: transcription and translation
- heredityDNA as the agent of heredity
- lifeChemistry in common
- mutation
- nervous systemAmino acids
- neurotransmitterTypes of neurotransmitters
- angiospermUptake of water and mineral nutrients from the soil
- olfactory receptor
- photosynthesisOverall reaction of photosynthesis
- phylogenyMajor evolutionary steps
- translation
- vegetable processingNutritional value
Additional Reading
Reginald H. Garrett and Charles M. Grisham, Biochemistry, 6th ed. (2017); and David L. Nelson and Michael M. Cox, Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 6th ed. (2013), are excellent biochemistry textbooks, both written at the introductory college level and each with a chapter on amino acids. G.C. Barrett and Donald T. Elmore, Amino Acids and Peptides (1998), is intended for undergraduate and beginning graduate students in biochemistry and concentrates on amino acids and peptides without detailed discussions of proteins.
David S. Goodsell, Our Molecular Nature: The Body’s Motors, Machines and Messages (1996), contains many vivid depictions and unique drawings of the molecules of life, including amino acids, proteins, DNA, and RNA. Eric R. Braverman, Carl C. Pfeiffer, Kenneth Blum, and Richard Smayda, The Healing Nutrients Within: Facts, Findings and New Research on Amino Acids, 3rd ed. (2003), includes research on the beneficial roles of amino acids in cancer, heart conditions, depression, and Alzheimer disease, among other diseases; it is comprehensive and easily understood.
Article Contributors
Primary Contributors
-
Michael K. Reddy
Associate Professor of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Other Contributors
- Nikita Desai
Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors
Article History
| Type | Description | Contributor | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Article title updated for style. | Nov 11, 2026 | ||
| Modified link of Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Biochemistry, Amino Acid Synthesis and Degradation. | Oct 19, 2026 | ||
| Add new Web site: Biology LibreTexts - Structure and Function - Amino Acids. | Aug 28, 2026 | ||
| Add new Web site: OpenStax - Organic Chemistry - Structures of Amino Acids. | Jan 23, 2026 | ||
| Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Biochemistry, Amino Acid Synthesis and Degradation. | Nov 07, 2025 | ||
| Add new Web site: Chemistry LibreTexts - Amino Acids and Alkaloids. | Sep 27, 2025 | ||
| Add new Web site: IOPscience - IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science - Open Access proceedings Journal of Physics: Conference series (PDF). | Aug 23, 2025 | ||
| Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Biochemistry, Amino Acid Synthesis and Degradation. | Apr 21, 2025 | ||
| Questions and answers added. | Jan 17, 2025 | ||
| Add new Web site: Biology LibreTexts - Amino Acids and Peptides. | Nov 27, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: Mustansiriyah University - Amino Acid: Structure and Classification. | Oct 21, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: WebMD - Foods High in Amino Acids. | Sep 09, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: Purdue University - Chemical Education Division Groups - Amino Acids. | Aug 02, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: Roger Williams University Open Publishing - Introduction to Molecular and Cell Biology - Amino Acids and Proteins. | Apr 18, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: Khan Academy - Amino acid structure. | Jan 03, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: Open Oregon Educational Resources - Structure and Function ? Amino Acids. | Sep 05, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: Cleveland Clinic - Amino Acid. | May 16, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: Nature - Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy - Amino acid metabolism in health and disease. | Apr 07, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: Healthline - Essential Amino Acids: Definition, Benefits, and Food Sources. | Nov 09, 2022 | ||
| Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Biochemistry, Amino Acid Synthesis and Degradation. | Aug 22, 2022 | ||
| Add new Web site: Biology LibreTexts - Structure and Function - Amino Acids. | May 02, 2022 | ||
| Added a video about the structure and function of amino acids. | Oct 20, 2020 | ||
| Add new Web site: Molecular Expressions - The Amino Acid Collection. | Mar 01, 2019 | ||
| Add new Web site: Verywell Fit - What Are Amino Acids and Which Are Essential? | Feb 28, 2019 | ||
| Media added. | Dec 21, 2016 | ||
| Bibliography updated. | Dec 21, 2016 | ||
| Updated information on amino acids and other compounds identified in the Murchison meteorite. | Dec 21, 2016 | ||
| Added revised graphics of Group I and Group II amino acids. |
|
Dec 18, 2015 | |
| Reclassified glycine from a group II (polar, uncharged) amino acid to a group I (nonpolar) amino acid. |
|
Nov 04, 2015 | |
| Add new Web site: MedlinePlus - Amino Acid. | Mar 23, 2014 | ||
| Add new Web site: Hyperphysics - Amino Acid. | Apr 16, 2013 | ||
| Add new Web site: Buzzle.com - Amino Acid. | Apr 16, 2013 | ||
| Add new Web site: Quatr.us - What are Amino Acids? | Apr 16, 2013 | ||
| Add new Web site: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - Amino Acid Biosynthesis. | Sep 13, 2011 | ||
| "Surface-active agent" changed to "surfactant." | Dec 06, 2010 | ||
| Add new Web site: How Stuff Works - Science - Amino Acid. | Aug 13, 2010 | ||
| Media added. | Mar 23, 2009 | ||
| Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Healthguide - Amino Acids. | Sep 30, 2008 | ||
| Added new Web site: Michigan State University - Proteins, Peptides & Amino Acids. | Aug 04, 2008 | ||
| New bibliography added. | Jul 30, 2008 | ||
| Article revised and updated. | Jul 30, 2008 | ||
| Added new Web site: The Merck Manuals - Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism Disorders. | May 13, 2008 | ||
| Added new Web site: Rader's Chem4Kids.Com - Acids in Proteins? | May 05, 2008 | ||
| Article added to new online database. | Jul 20, 1998 |
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