Amínósýra

Amínósýra is the Icelandic term for amino acid. Amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins. They are characterized by a central carbon atom, to which an amino group (containing nitrogen), a carboxyl group (containing carbon and oxygen), a hydrogen atom, and a side chain (also called an R group) are attached. The R group is what differentiates one amino acid from another.

There are twenty standard amino acids that are commonly found in proteins. These can be classified based on the properties of their R groups, such as whether they are acidic, basic, polar, or nonpolar. Some amino acids are considered essential, meaning the human body cannot synthesize them and they must be obtained from the diet. Others are nonessential, as the body can produce them.

Amino acids link together through peptide bonds to form long chains called polypeptides. These polypeptides then fold into specific three-dimensional structures to create functional proteins. Proteins play vital roles in virtually all biological processes, including enzyme catalysis, structural support, transport, and immune defense. The sequence of amino acids in a protein determines its unique structure and function.