Essential amino acid

An amino acid an organism cannot synthesize in sufficient amounts and must obtain from its diet. Essentiality depends on the organism and, in some cases, its life stage.

Amino acid: An organic molecule that commonly serves as a building block of proteins and participates in metabolism. Essential amino acids are members of this larger molecular class.
Translation (biology): The cellular process that reads messenger RNA and assembles amino acids into a protein. Essential amino acids must be available for translation to produce proteins.
Dietary reference intake: A set of nutrient intake standards used to plan and assess diets for healthy populations. Reference standards specify recommended intakes for indispensable amino acids.
Nonessential amino acid: An amino acid an organism can synthesize in sufficient amounts under specified conditions. It contrasts with amino acids that must be supplied by the diet.
Protein: A molecule made of one or more chains of amino acids, folded into structures that perform biological functions. Dietary amino acids supply the components used to build proteins.
Protein biosynthesis: The cellular process of producing proteins from genetic instructions. Dietary amino acids feed the broader process that makes proteins.
Protein quality: A measure of how well a dietary protein supplies amino acids that the body can use. Essential amino acid content is a major determinant of protein quality.
Conditionally essential amino acid: An amino acid normally synthesized in adequate amounts but required from the diet under particular conditions. Growth, illness, or metabolic stress can make usual synthesis insufficient.
Proteinogenic amino acid: An amino acid incorporated into proteins during translation or through later modification. Most essential amino acids are needed to make proteins.
Limiting amino acid: The indispensable amino acid present in the lowest amount relative to an organism’s protein-synthesis needs. A shortage of even one required amino acid can constrain protein synthesis.

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