Amino Acids Function Explained

Amines, or the simple molecules that make up more complex organic compounds, are the basis for Amino Acids. This elementary molecule is made up of a nitrogen atom along with a one pair. Biogenic amines are usually formed by the biological process, and are associated with many amino acids in the human body.

With the addition of carboxylic acid added to the nitrogen chain forms the amino acid group. This can be manipulated to make any of the forms of amino acids, although full synthesis of some biological amino acids has yet to be developed. Biologically speaking, amino acids have such an important role in life that a sudden absence of them would result in immediate death.

Amino acids have a variety of important functions. They are the principle building blocks of proteins, and are critical to living beings. Metabolism finds amino acids crucial to its function, as amino acids aid in most metabolic processes. We attain them not only from the food we eat, but our bodies also produce them in large quantities. They aid in brain function and other important vital operations of the human body.

Amino acids build chemicals in the human body that are essential for its entire existence. Things such as Heme, the precursor to Hemoglobin, are important for blood development. Hemoglobin is used by the erythrocytes, or red blood cells, to attach oxygen for bringing to tissues in the body. It also is able to bring back carbon dioxide, a waste material formed by cellular respiration, from the tissues and back to the lungs for exhalation.

Nutritionists recognize amino acids as important for body function, so they recommend foods high in these useful molecules. Proteins are used to build tissue such as muscle and bone. Skin, along with organ tissue, is replaced by the building properties of amino acids. We would not be able to heal injuries without these all-important enzymes.

Our very DNA is made up of these simple molecules. Only four amino acids are present in DNA, or Deoxyribonucleic acid. These are Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, and Thymine. These are held in place by their own chemical bonds, with a phosphate and deoxyribose spine. This building block of life is found in every living thing on Earth, so it follows that amino acids are EXTREMELY important!

Amino acids are also used in the manufacturing process of certain foods. Gels and thickeners have amino acids in them, as do flavor enhancers. Monosodium Glutamate is an amino acid that gives certain Eastern foods their unique flavor. Other food technologies use amino acids to develop pseudo-fats that lend fat-free food its rich flavor.

Plastics are manufactured using an amino acid combination in its chemical makeup. Biodegradable plastics such as those used in disposable plastic eating utensils are hardened, but amino acids are introduced so that when the utensils are exposed to air and sunlight for an extended period they begin to decompose, the plastic bonds breaking down.

Drug delivery systems use biodegradable plastics in capsules, harmless plastic that easily melts in the stomach for precise delivery of the pharmaceutical. Polypeptides, polyurethanes, and even polyesters can be made biodegradable just by having a simple amino acid along their molecular chain. Disposable diapers are now being made with this method, so landfills can become smaller instead of larger.