Which one of the following is not an essential amino acid ?
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A useful mnemonic to remember the ten essential amino acids is PVT TIM HALL:
- Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine
- Tryptophan, Isoleucine, Methionine
- Histidine, Arginine, Lysine, Leucine
Note that the 'A' stands for Arginine, not Alanine.
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They are categorized as essential (cannot be synthesized by the body and must be supplied in the diet) or non-essential (can be synthesized by the body from metabolic intermediates). Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us categorize the listed amino acids:
• Methionine, Lysine, and Tryptophan: These are essential amino acids that must be obtained through dietary sources like milk, eggs, or legumes.
• Alanine: A non-essential amino acid. The human body can readily synthesize alanine from pyruvate via transamination reactions.
Therefore, Alanine is not an essential amino acid. Step 3: Final Answer
Alanine is a non-essential amino acid.