Amino Acids

Amino acids are the basic units of proteins and important organic molecules in living organisms. The amino acid structure consists of an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH), a hydrogen atom, and a side chain group. The side chain groups of amino acids determine the difference between different amino acids, allowing them to perform different functions in the body. The human body needs 20 amino acids to make proteins, nine of which are essential amino acids that the body cannot make on its own and must be consumed through food. These nine essential amino acids include lysine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, threonine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, and threonine. Amino acids have many important functions in the human body, including building proteins, regulating metabolism