

The different types of amino acids are hydrophobic, hydrophilic, polar and nonpolar.Each of these types of amino acids play their own unique role in the development of muscle and tissue. The building blocks of proteins are amino acids and there are a number of classifications or types of this essential acid. 2005 ĭiscovery of Threonine by William C.Protein helps in muscle building and development and as such, is very important for the human body to be able to function well and accomplish daily tasks. Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (Macronutrients). You can learn more about this drug using the link below.

The drug Kuvan was approved for use with PKU patients in 2007 who have low phenylalanine hydroxylase activity levels. If individuals with PKU consume too much phenylalanine, phenylalanine and its metabolites, can build up and cause brain damage and severe mental retardation. Individuals with PKU have to eat a very low protein diet and avoid the alternative sweetener aspartame, because it can be broken down to phenylalanine. Thus, tyrosine is a conditionally essential amino acid. Since tyrosine cannot be synthesized by people with PKU, it becomes essential for them. Individuals with PKU have a mutation in the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase, which normally adds an alcohol group (OH) to the amino acid phenylalanine to form tyrosine as shown below.įigure 2.251 Phenylketonuria (PKU) results from a mutation in the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase 2,3 An example of a condition when an amino acid becomes essential is the disease phenylketonuria (PKU). Conditionally essential amino acids become essential for individuals in certain situations.

Non-essential, or dispensable, amino acids can be made in our body, so we do not need to consume them. Web Linkĭiscovery of Threonine by William C. Rose at the University of Illinois discovered that threonine was essential by feeding different diets to graduate students at the university as described in the following link. As an example of how amino acids were determined to be essential, Dr. As a result these amino acids are known as essential, or indispensable, amino acids. Thus, it is essential that these are consumed in the diet.

The body cannot synthesize nine amino acids. Table 2.251 Essential, conditionally essential, and nonessential amino acids 1 Essential The table below shows how the 20 amino acids are classified. These amino acids can be classified as essential, non-essential, or conditionally essential. There are 20 amino acids our body uses to synthesize proteins.
