alanine - a crystalline amino acid that occurs in many proteins

asparagine - a crystalline amino acid found in proteins and in many plants (e.g., asparagus)

aspartic acid - a crystalline amino acid found in proteins and occurring naturally in sugar beets and sugar cane

canavanine - an amino acid found in the jack bean

citrulline - an amino acid that does not occur in proteins but is an intermediate in the conversion of ornithine to arginine

cysteine - an amino acid containing sulfur that is found in most proteins; oxidizes on exposure to air to form cystine

cystine - a crystalline amino acid found in proteins (especially keratin); discovered in bladder stones

dihydroxyphenylalanine, dopa - amino acid that is formed in the liver and converted into dopamine in the brain

essential amino acid - an amino acid that is required by animals but that they cannot synthesize; must be supplied in the diet

GABA, gamma aminobutyric acid - an amino acid that is found in the central nervous system; acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter

glutamic acid, glutaminic acid - an amino acid occurring in proteins; important in the nitrogen metabolism of plants; used in monosodium glutamate to enhance the flavor of meats

glutamine - a crystalline amino acid occurring in proteins; important in protein metabolism

glycine - the simplest amino acid found in proteins and the principal amino acid in sugar cane

hydroxyproline - a crystalline amino acid obtained from gelatin or collagen

iodoamino acid - an amino acid with iodine added

ornithine - an amino acid that does not occur in proteins but is important in the formation of urea

proline - an amino acid that is found in many proteins (especially collagen)

organic compound - any compound of carbon and another element or a radical

protein - any of a large group of nitrogenous organic compounds that are essential constituents of living cells; consist of polymers of amino acids; essential in the diet of animals for growth and for repair of tissues; can be obtained from meat and eggs and milk and legumes; "a diet high in protein"

creatin, creatine - an amino acid that does not occur in proteins but is found in the muscle tissue of vertebrates both in the free form and as phosphocreatine; supplies energy for muscle contraction

sarcosine - a sweetish crystalline amino acid

serine - a sweetish crystalline amino acid involved in the synthesis by the body of cysteine

thyronine - a phenolic amino acid of which thyroxine is a derivative

tyramine - amino acid derived from tyrosine; has a sympathomimetic action; found in chocolate and cola drinks and ripe cheese and beer; "patients taking MAOIs should avoid foods containing tyramine"

tyrosine - an amino acid found in most proteins; a precursor of several hormones