BSC 2010C Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Methionine, Glutathione, Chemical Formula
Document Summary
Methionine is one of the 20 amino acids that make up proteins and is classified as an essential amino acid because it cannot be synthesized in the body and must be obtained from the diet. It is a sulfur- containing amino acid, meaning that it contains a sulfur atom in its chemical structure. Methionine has a complex structure, consisting of a three-carbon chain with a sulfur-containing side chain that contains a methyl group (-ch3). Methionine plays a critical role in protein synthesis, as it is typically the first amino acid incorporated into a growing polypeptide chain. Methionine is also important for the synthesis of other important molecules in the body, including glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, and creatine, a molecule involved in energy metabolism. Methionine is also involved in the synthesis of sam (s-adenosylmethionine), a molecule that is involved in a wide range of biochemical reactions in the body, including dna and rna methylation, neurotransmitter synthesis, and protein modification.
