Amino acids are organic molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, forming the basic units of proteins. They all share a common structure consisting of:
There are 20 standard amino acids, 9 of which are classified as essential because the human body cannot synthesize them and must obtain them through diet.
The 9 essential amino acids are:
The other 11 amino acids are considered non-essential because the body can produce them from other nutrients. However, some become conditionally essential under certain conditions (e.g., arginine and glutamine during metabolic stress or illness).
Amino acids are the basic building blocks that make up proteins.
A protein is a chain of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.
These chains can be short (peptides or polypeptides) or long and folded into complex structures, forming functional proteins such as enzymes, hormones, and collagen.
The specific amino acid composition of a protein determines its structure and function in the body.
In summary: proteins are assembled from amino acids, just like words are formed from letters.
