Quick Facts
- Related Topics:
- Amino acid
- ammonia
- Arginine
- excitatory amino acid
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Aspartic acid
chemical compound
Aspartic acid, an amino acid obtainable as a product of the hydrolysis of proteins. First isolated in 1868 from legumin in plant seeds, aspartic acid is one of several so-called nonessential amino acids for mammals; i.e., they can synthesize it from oxaloacetic acid (formed in the metabolism of carbohydrates) and do not require dietary sources. The chemical structure of aspartic acid is
This article was most recently revised and updated by Erik Gregersen.
Discover how ordinary objects work, and expand your understanding of the familiar.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
By clicking "Sign Up", you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.