Building Blocks of Proteins: Amino Acids
Amino acids are the fundamental building blocks of proteins. They are organic compounds with an amino group (-NH2) and a carboxyl group (-COOH) attached to a central carbon atom. Amino acids are classified as essential or non-essential, depending on whether the body can synthesize them or must obtain them from food sources. The sequence of amino acids in a protein determines its primary structure and ultimately affects its shape, function, and biological activity.
