Burlaza, Rosario September 18, 2019
Palaganas, Denzel
CYSTEINE
Cysteine is one of the 20 building blocks of protein. It is a nonessential amino acid,
meaning that cysteine can be made in the human body. Cysteine is one of the few amino acids
that contain sulfur. This allows cysteine to bond in a special way and maintain the structure of
proteins in the body.
The sources of foods where cysteine can be found include the animal and vegetarian
sources. Animal sources mainly include fish or seafood, beef, meat, eggs and cheese while
vegetarian sources include garlic, sprouts, and various kinds of grains.
FUNCTIONS AND BENEFITS
1. Cysteine is an amino acid that helps to detoxify harmful toxins and protect the body
from radiation damage.
2. It acts as a precursor to glutathione which is an antioxidant.
3. Cysteine is critical to the metabolism of a number of essential biochemical- coenzyme,
heparin, biotin, lipoic acid, and glutathione.
4. Cysteine has been found to help strengthen the protective lining of the stomach as well as
intestines, which may help prevent damage caused by aspirin and similar drugs
5. According to several studies, blood levels of cysteine and glutathione are low in people
infected with HIV . Cysteine has a role in the proper function of the immune system, so a
deficiency of this amino acid may either contribute to, or result from, immune
suppression associated with HIV.
METHIONINE
Methionine is an essential amino acid which assists with metabolic function, breaks down
fat, and is the primary source of sulfur in the body. Methionine plays a critical role in starting the
process of making new proteins inside your cells, something that is continuously occurring as
older proteins break down.
Methionine is an essential amino acid in humans and is important in angiogenesis which
is the formation or production of new blood vessels inside our body.
The sources of foods where methionine can be found include the animal and vegetarian
sources. Animal sources mainly include fish or seafood, beef, meat, and eggs while vegetarian
sources include almonds, onions, and dairy products. It is estimated that around 8% of amino
acids in egg whites are sulfur containing amino acids (methionine and cysteine).
FUNCTIONS AND BENEFITS
1. One of the major roles of methionine in the body is that it can be used to produce other
important molecules.
2. It is involved in the production of cysteine, the other sulfur-containing amino acid used to
build proteins in the body
3. Supplies sulfur and other compounds required by the body for normal metabolism and
growth.
4. It helps the digestive system by detoxifying harmful agents such as lead, mercury and
other heavy metals.
5. It protects cells from pollutants, slows cell aging, and is essential for absorption and
bio-availability of selenium and zinc.
6. It helps diminish muscle weakness, prevent brittle hair, and protect against radiation
(which causes harmful effect to our body including cancer)
PROLINE
Proline is a non-essential, non-polar, aliphatic amino acid. It is the only amino acid with a
secondary amino - group which makes it an imino acid instead of an amino acid. Nonetheless, it
is called an amino acid. It is an alpha - amino acid which is needed in the biosynthesis of
proteins.
Proline, a nonessential amino acid, is synthesized from glutamic acid and ornithine
through the intermediary Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid (PC). Due to its distinctive sidechain,
Proline has a conformational rigidity. It cannot act as an H - bond acceptor and it disrupts the
structure of proteins.
FUNCTIONS AND BENEFITS
1. Proline is a major component of protein collagen in muscle fibers.
2. Proline improves skin texture and aids collagen formation and helps contain the loss of
collagen during aging.
In collagen, the principal protein of human connective tissue, certain prolyl residues are
hydroxylated. The hydroxylation occurs during protein synthesis and requires ascorbic
acid (vitamin C) as a cofactor. Deficiency of vitamin C causes formation of defective
collagen and scurvy.
3. Helps in strengthening cardiac muscles.
4. The metabolism of proline is connected to enzymes that require niacin and vitamin C.
Burlaza, Rosario September 18, 2019
Palaganas, Denzel
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Biemann , K., Chang, Y.H., Chen, S., Griffith, E.C., Liu, J.O., Su, Z.,...Wu,Z. (1997).
Methionine Aminopeptidase (Type2) Is The Common Target For Angiogenesis Inhibitors
AGM-1470 and Ovalicin. Retrived from [Link]
Grant, T. (2018, April 13). Methionine: Functions, Food Sources and Side Effects. Retrieved
from [Link] [Link]
Kaiser Permanente. (2019) Cysteine. Retrieved from[Link]
Leluk, J. (n.d.) Why is Cysteine Special? Retrieved from [Link]
PubChem. (n.d.). Methionine. Retrieved from [Link]
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