Isoleucine

Isoleucine is an essential branched-chain amino acid incorporated into proteins and metabolized for energy and other cellular functions. Humans must obtain it from food.

Branched-chain amino acids: Leucine, isoleucine, and valine are essential amino acids with branched hydrocarbon side chains. Isoleucine is one of the three amino acids in this metabolic group.
Amino acid: An amino acid is an organic molecule containing amino and carboxyl groups; protein-building amino acids also have a distinctive side chain. Isoleucine is one of the standard amino acids used to build proteins.
Dietary reference intake: Dietary reference intakes are nutrient intake benchmarks used to plan and assess diets for healthy populations. Isoleucine requirements are included in estimates for essential amino acid intake.
Leucine: Leucine is an essential branched-chain amino acid with a hydrophobic side chain and a distinct role in protein metabolism. Leucine shares the branched-chain family but has a different side-chain structure and codons.
Protein biosynthesis: Protein biosynthesis is the cellular process of translating messenger RNA into a chain of amino acids. Ribosomes incorporate isoleucine at positions specified by its codons.
Essential amino acid: An essential amino acid cannot be synthesized in sufficient amounts by the human body and must be obtained from the diet. Human cells cannot make enough isoleucine to meet physiological needs.
Dietary protein: Dietary protein is protein consumed in food and digested into amino acids and small peptides. Protein-rich foods supply the isoleucine that humans cannot synthesize.
Valine: Valine is an essential branched-chain amino acid used in protein synthesis and metabolized for energy. Valine is isoleucine's close metabolic relative, but its side chain is smaller.
Transfer RNA: Transfer RNA is an adaptor molecule that pairs an amino acid with a matching messenger RNA codon during translation. Isoleucine-specific transfer RNAs deliver it to the ribosome.
Side chain: A side chain is the variable chemical group attached to an amino acid's central carbon. Isoleucine's hydrophobic, branched side chain gives it distinctive interactions in proteins.

Linked from 3 pages