essential amino acid

/əˌsɛntʃəl əˌminoʊ ˌæsəd/

Other forms: essential amino acids

Definitions of essential amino acid

1. noun

   an amino acid that is required by animals but that they cannot synthesize; must be supplied in the diet
   types:

   arginine

   a bitter tasting amino acid found in proteins and necessary for nutrition; its absence from the diet leads to a reduced production of spermatozoa

   histidine

   an essential amino acid found in proteins that is important for the growth and repair of tissue

   isoleucine

   an essential amino acid found in proteins; isomeric with leucine

   leucine

   a white crystalline amino acid occurring in proteins that is essential for nutrition; obtained by the hydrolysis of most dietary proteins

   lysine

   an essential amino acid found in proteins; occurs especially in gelatin and casein

   methionine

   a crystalline amino acid containing sulfur; found in most proteins and essential for nutrition

   phenylalanine

   an essential amino acid found in proteins and needed for growth of children and for protein metabolism in children and adults; abundant in milk and eggs; it is normally converted to tyrosine in the human body

   threonine

   a colorless crystalline amino acid found in protein; occurs in the hydrolysates of certain proteins; an essential component of human nutrition

   tryptophan, tryptophane

   an amino acid that occurs in proteins; is essential for growth and normal metabolism; a precursor of niacin

   valine

   an essential amino acid found in proteins; important for growth in children and nitrogen balance in adults

   type of:

   amino acid, aminoalkanoic acid

   organic compounds containing an amino group and a carboxylic acid group