Question

The non-essential amino acid among the following is:
(A) valine
(B) leucine
(C) alanine
(D) lysine

Answer 1

Hint: Although proteins are essential compounds with structure and function, they are not sufficient for their own propagation. The information of specific proteins is stored in nucleic acids. Proteins are formed from the combination of amino acid organic compounds. Amino acids and proteins are the basic building blocks of life.

Complete step by step solution:
Amino acids are left when proteins are digested or broken down. Amino acids are very useful to the human body to produce proteins to help the body like break down food, grow, repair body tissue, and perform many other body functions.
As a source of energy by the body used as amino acids. Amino acids are classified into three categories,
(i) Essential amino acids
(ii) Non-essential amino acids
(iii) Conditional amino acids
Essential amino acids:
These amino acids must come from food but not made by the body. There are 9 essential amino acids are histidine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
Non-essential amino acids:
These amino acids are produced from our bodies; even we did not get it from the food. Non-essential amino acids are alanine, arginine, asparagines, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine.
Hence, alanine is the non-essential amino acid among the given amino acids.

The correct answer is option C.

Note: Except in times of illness and stress, conditional amino acids are usually not essential. Arginine, cysteine, glutamine, tyrosine, glycine, ornithine, proline, and seriene are included in conditional amino acids. When we eat food, getting a balance of essential and non-essential over the whole day is important.