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Psychological Terms – Amino Acid
An amino acid is any organic compound that contains both an amino group (NH₂) and a carboxyl group (COOH). Out of more than 100 amino acids found in nature, twenty form the essential building blocks of all peptides, polypeptides, and proteins that make up living cells. These include non-essential amino acids, which the body can manufacture, and essential amino acids, which must be consumed in the diet. Amino acids are vital in numerous psychological and neurological functions because many of them—such as glutamic acid, glycine, and tyrosine—are precursors or components of neurotransmitters.
Related biochemical concepts include aspartic acid, creatine, DOPA, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and codons, which link amino acids to the genetic code.
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