Amino Acids

In chemistry, an amino acid is any molecule that contains both amine and carboxylic acid functional groups. In biochemistry, this shorter and more general term is frequently used to refer to alpha amino acids: those amino acids in which the amino and carboxylate functionalities are attached to the same carbon, the so-called a-carbon.

Amino acids are the "building blocks" of the body. They play a vital role both as intermediates in metabolism as well as constructing mass of proteins. They are the basic structural unit of proteins. They do not only build cells and repairs tissues, they also form antibodies that fight bacteria and viruses. Amino acids are part of the enzyme and hormonal system and they build nucleoproteins which are RNA and DNA.

They also carry oxygen throughout the body and contribute in muscle activity. When protein is broken down through digestion, the results are the twenty known amino acids. Eight of these amino acids are essential which cannot be manufactured by the body, while the rest are non-essential and can be manufactured by the body with the proper nutrition.