Amino acids

Amino acids are biologically important organic compounds. Chains of amino acids form proteins. Amino acids also play an role in biosynthesis and other important processes in plants and animals.

About 500 amino acids are known. They are classified as alpha (α), beta (β), delta (δ) or gamma (ϒ) amino acids. They are also categorized in relation to polarity, pH level and side chain group type. 

Amino acids are composed of:

1. ​A core, defining the classification (α, β, δ or ϒ).
2. Amino group (NH2).
3. A carboxyl group (COOH).
4. A side chain (R) that is specific to each amino acid.

The structure of an alpha amino acid.

Every plant needs certain components for growth. The basic component of living cells is proteins, which are formed by amino acids. Twenty amino acids identified to have important functions in plants: Alanine, Arginine, Asparagine, Aspartate, Cysteine, Glutamine, Glutamate, Glycine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Tyrosine and Valine.

Plants produce amino acids from the primary elements:

• Carbon (C) and oxygen (O) from air.
• Hydrogen (H) from water in the soil.
• Nitrogen (N) from the soil.

​​Amino acids can also by supplied directly to the plant. This helps in improving the microflora of the soil, and thereby facilitating the assimilation of nutrients.

Nitrogen balance