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Amino acids are building blocks of protein. More than 300 amino acids have been described, but only
20 amino acids take part in protein synthesis. All twenty amino acids did not appear simultaneously in
nature. Instead some of them appeared early, while others were added into the genetic code later. It is
necessary to take them in the diet because their deficiency results in decrease formation of protein that
ultimately leads to disease condition. In this article, amino acids, its functions and associated diseases
have been elaborated.
INTRODUCTION
Amino acids are basic unit of protein. Amino acids acids (Hellwinkel, 2001; IUPAC-IUB, 1968). Amino acids
contain an amino group and a carboxylic group. Amino help in tissue protein formation. Some amino acids are
acids play major role in regulating multiple processes involved in enzyme formation. Hormones like insulin,
related to gene expression, including modulation of the growth hormone and glucagon are made up of amino
function of the proteins that mediate messenger RNA acids. Adrenaline, nor-adrenaline and thyroxin are made
(mRNA) translation (Scot et al., 2006). Amino acids are up of single amino acid. Glutathione, a physiologically
utilized in formation of protein. If amino acids are active peptide is also made up of amino acids. Amino
deficient, then protein synthesis does not occur. As a acids are involved in synthesis of melanin. It has been
result protein deficiency disease may occur. It is studied that amino-acid balance in cancer patients often
necessary to take balanced diet containing all essential differs from that in healthy individuals, because of
amino acids. Specific amino acids are known to acutely metabolic changes (Jun et al., 2010). In liver cirrhosis
and chronically regulate insulin secretion from pancreatic functions of dendritic cells (DCs) are impaired and
β-cells in vivo and in vitro (Lorraine et al., 2006). Amino cirrhotic patients may show decreased levels of plasma
acids are categorized as acidic, basic and neutral amino branched-chain amino acids (Eiji et al., 2007).
acids. Some amino acids are not synthesized in the body
and it is necessary to take them in diet. Such types of
amino acids are called essential amino acids. Some Glutamic acid
amino acids are synthesized in the body and there is no
needs to take them in diet, such type of amino acids are It is an acidic amino acid. It helps in synthesis of
called non essential amino acids. Some amino acids are glutathione. It is converted to alpha ketoglutaric acid in
synthesized in the body but their production is insufficient transamination reactions.
such type of amino acids are called semi-essential amino
GABA
*Corresponding author. E-mail: makram_0451@hotmail.com. It is called gamma amino butyric acid. It is formed from
Tel: 92-021-6440083. Fax: 92-021-6440079. glutamic acid. It is a neurotransmitter.
3998 J. Med. Plant. Res.
Tyrosine is usually used in synthesis of thyroid Amino acids are present in plant and form protein. Plants
hormones. It is also utilized to form synthesize amino acids from the carbon and oxygen that
Dihydroxyphenylalanine, noradrenaline and adrenaline. is obtained from air and hydrogen from water in the soil.
Amino acids play important role to increase yield and
overall quality of crops. Amino acids are absorbed
Cysteine through stomas in plants. It has been observed that
amino acids influence the physiological activities of the
It is a sulpher containing amino acid. It is obtained from plant. Plant mutants for amino acid transporter genes are
methionine. now being used to study the physiological functions of
many of the cloned genes (Wolf et al., 1998).
Dopa
Amino acid and GABA content in different cultivars
Dopa is a neurotransmitter. It is converted to dopamine. of Momordica charantia L.
Dopamine deficiency results in parkinsonism.
A study was carried out to determine the variability of
amino acid levels including gamma-aminobutyric acid
Tryptophan (GABA) in six cultivars of bitter melon (Momordica
charantia L.) of different countries. Nikko and Peacock
Tryptophan is produced from Niacin. Niacin deficiency from Japan, Galaxy and Verde Buenas from Philippines
results in pellagra. and two native cultivars from China and Korea were
selected for study. Cultivars varied considerably in the
amounts of different amino acids Table 1. It was
Proline concluded that bitter melon cultivars varies in the amount
of different amino acids and GABA and is a good source
Proline is an amino acid that is hydroxylated to of amino acids and GABA in the development of food
hydroxyproline in presence of vitamin c. If vitamin c supplements (Yong et al., 2009).
deficiency occurs. It leads to a disease condition called
Scurvy. Scurvy is characterized by swollen gums and
bleeding upon pressing the gums. Role of plasma amino acids in alcoholic and non-
alcoholic fatty liver disease
Essential amino acids Non essential amino acids Special amino acids
Lysine Cysteine GABA
Methionine Tyrosine DOPA
Valine Serine Citrulline
Tryptophan Alanine Ornithine
Isoleucine Asparagines Taurine
Histidine Aspartic acid
Phenylalanine Glutamic acid
Threonine Glycine
Leucine Hydroxylysine
Arginine Proline
with this disease have fair hair and fair skin and are amino acids help in formation of enzymes that catalyze
mentally retarded, other features include seizure, the chemical reaction (Usdin et al., 1967). Mutations in
psychosis and eczema. the neutral amino acid transporter B0AT1 causes
Hartnup disorder. It is an autosomal recessive disorder.
Iminoglycinuria is a multigene disorder. The proton amino
Albinism acid transporters PAT1 and PAT2, the IMINO transporter
and the glycine transporter XT2 play important roles in
It is an inherited disorder that occurs due to deficiency of the resorption of glycine and proline. Recent research in
enzyme tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is involved in synthesis of the cloning and identification of epithelial amino acid
melanin. Due to deficiency of melanin, patient becomes transporters provides basis for the identification of genes
white. that are involved in Hartnup disorder and Iminoglycinuria.
Sequence analysis of these genes is currently in
progress (Stefan, 2006). A study was carried out to
Alkaptonuria measure amino acid contents in the brains of patients
with dominantly inherited cerebellar disorders. In these
It is a genetic disorder that occurs due to deficiency of patients, clinical sign and symptoms were similar but
homogentisic acid oxidase. In this disease, accumulation biochemically different disorders were observed. In one
of homogentisic acid occurs in the body. Manifestations disorder, moderate reduction of aspartate and glutamate
of this disease include dark urine and generalized contents in cerebellar cortex was observed. In a second
pigmentation of connective tissues. disorder, aspartate and glutamate were reduced
markedly in cerebellar cortex and other brain areas. In
third disorder, aspartate and glutamate contents were
DISCUSSION normal in cerebellar cortex. In this study, it was
concluded that reduction in amino acid content probably
Some amino acids are ketogenic amino acids that form imply loss of specific cerebellar neurons (Thomas et al.,
ketone bodies. Ketone bodies are chemical substances 1981).
that the body forms when there is not enough insulin in
the blood. Ketone bodies are acetoacetate, beta hydroxyl
butyrate and acetone. Ketone bodies are formed in CONCLUSION
starvation. Energy is produced from ketone bodies in
starvation. One acetoacetate give two acetyl Co A. When Amino acids are necessary for protein synthesis and
one acetyl Co. A enters TCA cycle, it produces 12 ATP. have various functions in the body. It is necessary to take
Glucogenic amino acids form glucose. Gluconeogenesis them in the diet because their deficiency results in
is a process in which glucose is formed from non decrease formation of protein or protein is not formed as
carbohydrate substances. Tryptophan is an essential a result protein deficiency may occur. It is concluded that
amino acid, containing indole ring in its structure. It is amino acid play important role in our body.
essential part of some proteins. Tryptophan produces
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