Amino Acids : Biochemistry And Nutrition ⚡

Each of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids shares a common core structure: a central alpha-carbon atom bonded to an amino group ( ), a carboxyl group ( ), a hydrogen atom, and a unique (side chain).

: This variable side chain determines the specific chemical properties of each amino acid—such as its size, charge, and solubility—which ultimately dictates how a protein folds and functions. Amino acids : biochemistry and nutrition

From a nutritional standpoint, amino acids are categorized based on the body's ability to synthesize them: Each of the 20 proteinogenic amino acids shares