Chemical subclass
Code:
AMIA
Name:
Amino Acids
Chemical class:
Comment:
The plant amino acids are conveniently divided into two groups, the "protein" and "non-protein" acids. They are colourless ionic compounds, their solubility properties and high melting points being due to the fact that they are zwitterions. The "protein" amino acids are generally recognised to be twenty in number and are those found in acid hydrolysates of plant (and animal) proteins. Only one of the "non-protein" amino acids is regularly present in plants.