Amino Acids

Question 1

How many standard amino acids are coded in DNA?

Answer 1

20 standard amino acids.

Question 2

What are essential amino acids?

Answer 2

Essential amino acids must be obtained from the diet.

Question 3

What are the non-essential amino acids?

Answer 3

Non-essential amino acids are synthesized by the body.

Question 4

What are acidic functional groups in amino acids?

Answer 4

Acidic groups maintain pH by donating hydrogens (e.g., Glutamic acid).

Glutamine & Glutamate

Question 5

What are basic functional groups in amino acids?

Answer 5

Basic groups accept hydrogens.

Lysine, Histidine, Arginine & Proline

Question 6

What are sulfur groups in amino acids?

Answer 6

Involved in detoxification and antioxidant production.

Methionine, Cysteine, Homocysteine & Taurine

Question 7

What are aromatic groups in amino acids?

Answer 7

Aromatic groups are starting points for neurotransmitters.

Tyrosine, Phenylalanine & Tryptophan

Question 8

What is the role of Glutamine?

Answer 8

Glutamine is an energy source for enterocytes and lymphocytes and crosses the blood-brain barrier to convert to Glutamate (excitatory neurotransmitter).

Question 9

What is Cysteine’s role?

Answer 9

Cysteine is a precursor to Glutathione, a key antioxidant, and is found in supplemental form as N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) for liver detoxification and respiratory conditions.

Question 10

What does Tryptophan do?

Answer 10

Tryptophan is a precursor for serotonin (mood regulation) and melatonin (sleep regulation).

Caution when used alongside SSRIs to avoid serotonin syndrome.

Question 11

What is Tyrosine’s function?

Answer 11

Tyrosine is a precursor for dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, and is involved in thyroid hormone and melanin synthesis.

Question 12

What is the clinical relevance of Homocysteine?

Answer 12

High levels of Homocysteine are linked to cardiovascular disease, depression, and infertility, treated with Vitamin B12 and Folate.

Question 13

What is Lysine’s role in health?

Answer 13

Lysine inhibits viral replication, especially Herpes simplex virus, and is found in animal protein, legumes, and dairy.

Question 14

What is Histidine’s importance?

Answer 14

Histidine is a precursor for histamine, important in immune response and digestion, and is involved in arousal and appetite regulation.

Question 15

What is Alanine used for?

Answer 15

Alanine recycles glucose from muscle to liver for energy during exercise and is used as a recovery enhancer in athletes (β-Alanine).

Question 16

What does Taurine support?

Answer 16

Taurine supports muscle and CNS function, acts as an antioxidant, and is used in liver detoxification and bile salt production.

Question 17

What is Proline essential for?

Answer 17

Proline is essential for collagen formation and skin health.

Question 18

What are Non-Protein Amino Acids?

Answer 18

Function independently, do not form peptide bonds.

Question 19

What determines amino acid shape and function?

Answer 19

Side Chains.

Question 20

What are Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)?

Answer 20

Valine, Leucine & Isoleucine.

Key Functions: Muscle protein synthesis, energy supply.

Question 21

Which BCAA is most potent for activating protein synthesis?

Answer 21

Leucine.

Question 22

What are the sources of BCAAs?

Answer 22

Meat, dairy, eggs, legumes; Isoleucine high in legumes, meat, dairy but low in grains.

Question 23

What is Tryptophan a precursor to?

Answer 23

Serotonin and melatonin.

Question 24

What are the therapeutic uses of Tryptophan?

Answer 24

Depression (5-HTP), insomnia (melatonin supplements).

Precaution: Avoid with CNS depressants and SSRIs due to serotonin syndrome risk.

Question 25

What is Phenylalanine a precursor for?

Answer 25

Catecholamines (e.g., dopamine, epinephrine).

Question 26

What does Tyrosine synthesize?

Answer 26

Dopamine, epinephrine. ## Footnote Essential for thyroid hormone and melanin production.

Question 27

What is Glutamate?

Answer 27

Excitatory neurotransmitter; converts to GABA (inhibitory) with Vitamin B6.

Question 28

What does Glutamate combine with to form Glutathione?

Answer 28

Glycine and Cysteine. ## Footnote Glutathione is an antioxidant.

Question 29

What is Glutamine's role?

Answer 29

Crosses blood-brain barrier, converts to Glutamate.

Question 30

What is Methionine critical for?

Answer 30

Hormone synthesis, DNA methylation, myelin sheath maintenance, cell membrane fluidity.

Question 31

What does Methionine convert to?

Answer 31

SAM (S-adenosyl methionine), a methyl donor.

Question 32

What is Cysteine a precursor for?

Answer 32

Glutathione.

Question 33

What is the supplemental form of Cysteine?

Answer 33

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)—used for detoxification and respiratory conditions.

Question 34

What are high levels of Homocysteine linked to?

Answer 34

Depression, CVD, infertility, inflammation, cancer.

Question 35

How can high Homocysteine levels be treated?

Answer 35

Supplementation with Vitamin B12 and Folate.

Question 36

What is high in Lysine?

Answer 36

Animal proteins, legumes, and dairy; low in grains.

Question 37

What is Histidine a precursor for?

Answer 37

Histamine.

Question 38

What role does Arginine play?

Answer 38

Produces nitric oxide (NO), which lowers blood pressure.

Question 39

What is the structure of amino acids?

Answer 39

Amine group (NH2), Carboxylate group (COOH), Central carbon with a side group (R group).

Question 40

What are the 9 essential amino acids? ## Footnote Help In Learning These Little Molecules Proves Truely Valuable

Answer 40

Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Threonine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Tryptophan, Valine.

Question 41

What are Peptides?

Answer 41

Short chain of 2-50 amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Building blocks of protein.