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Role of the nonessential amino acidsAmino acids serve as the fundamental building blocks of proteins. Proteins in turn participate in a multitude of functions and processes, such as digestion of food or repair of injured tissues- all of which are necessary for life. Amino acids are furthered classified in several ways. In one, they are divided into essential or nonessential amino acids. Essential amino acids are required to be present in the daily diet as the human body cannot manufacture nor can it store excess amino acids for later use.
Nonessential amino acids do not need
to be present at all times. Furthermore, nonessential amino acids are either processed in sufficient amounts by humans or produced from other sources. Examples are alanine, asparagine, aspartate, cysteine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine and tyrosine. Although they can be manufactured by the body or obtained from other amino acids, these nonessential amino acids play very important roles for the human body.
For instance, tyrosine, a nonessential amino acid, is synthesized from phenylalanine, an essential amino acid. Tyrosine is considered a nonessential amino acid only if phenylalanine is adequate in the diet. Further metabolism of tyrosine leads to the production of cathecolamines which are chemical messengers that primarily affect brain function and other body organs such as the heart and kidneys. Examples of cathecolamines derived from tyrosine include dopamine, norephineprine and epinephrine. Tyrosine is also the precursor of melanin, a pigment which determines the color of the skin, eyes and hair.
Other nonessential amino acids also portray important roles in the body. Glutamate is the one of the most common transmitter in the brain while its product, gamma aminobutyric acid or GABA is one among several that inhibits chemical messengers in the brain. Glycine, another nonessential amino acid with inhibitory effect, is primarily found in the spinal cord and brain stem. The brain and liver is detoxified from ammonia during the production of glutamine from glutamate.
As mentioned earlier and despite its classification, nonessential amino acids play varied yet vital functions that a few points need to be remembered. Nonessential amino acids are most often derived from other amino acids, particularly from essential amino acids. Essential amino acids must then be obtained in the daily diet or deficiencies in both essential and nonessential amino acids will occur. Disease states such as phenylketonuria then follow. Diseases caused by amino acid deficiencies may also be avoided through screening or prenatal diagnosis as exemplified by newborn screening programs for the prevention of mental retardation and other related problems due to phenylketonuria.
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