Amino Acid

Amino acids are molecules that contain at least one amine group (-NH₂) and at least one carboxylic acid group (-COOH). When these groups are both attached to the same carbon, the acid is an -amino acid.

Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins.

There are about 20 naturally occurring amino acids, which are particularly important in living things.

See also: Arginine, Aspartic Acid.