Difference between revisions of "Threonine" - New World Encyclopedia

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'''Threonine''' is an α-[[amino acid]] with the [[chemical formula]] HO<sub>2</sub>CCH(NH<sub>2</sub>)CH(OH)CH<sub>3</sub>. Its three letter code is thr, its one letter code is T, and its [[codon]]s are ACU and ACA. This [[essential amino acid]] is classified as [[polar]].  Together with [[serine]] and [[tyrosine]], threonine is one of three proteinogenic amino acids bearing an alcohol group.
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'''Threonine''' is an α-[[amino acid]] that is common in many [[protein]]s and together with [[serine]] and [[tyrosine]] is one of three proteinogenic amino acids bearing an alcohol group. Like serine, threonine is sometimes in substantial concentrations in the outer regions of soluble proteins due to its hydrophilic nature. With an easily removed hydrogen on the hydroxyl side chain, threonine is often a hydrogen donor in [[enzyme]]s.  
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The L-isomer of threonine, which is the only form that is involved in protein synthesis, is one of the 20 [[amino acid#standard amino acid|standard amino acids]] common in animal proteins and required for normal functioning in humans. Threonine is also classified as an [[amino acid#essential amino acids|"essential amino acid"]] since it cannot be synthesized by the [[human body]] from other compounds through chemical reactions and thus has to be taken in with the diet.
  
The threonine residue is susceptible to numerous [[posttranslational modification]]s. The hydroxy [[side chain]] can undergo O-linked [[glycosylation]].  Additionally, threonine residues undergo [[phosphorylation]] through the action of a threonine [[kinase]].  In its phosphorylated form, it can be referred to as phosphothreonine.
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Threonine's three letter code is Thr, its one letter code is T, its codons are ACU and ACA, and its systematic name is 2-Amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid  (IUPAC-IUB 1983).  
 
 
'''Serine''' is an α-[[amino acid]] that is common in many [[protein]]s, sometimes in substantial concentrations in the outer regions of soluble proteins due to its hydrophilic nature. Serine is an important component of phospholipids and participates in the biosynthesis of [[purine]]s and [[pyriminidine]]s, as well as such amino acids as [[cysteine]] and [[glycine]]. With an easily removed hydrogen on the hydroxyl side chain, serine is often a hydrogen donor in enzymes, such as trypsin and chymotrypsin, playing an important role in their function as catalysts.
 
 
 
In humans, the L-isomer, which is the only form that is involved in protein synthesis, is one of the 20 [[amino acid#standard amino acid|standard amino acids]] required for normal functioning. However, it is considered to be a [[amino acid#essential amino acids|"non-essential"]] amino acid since it does not have to be taken in with the diet, but can be synthesized by the human body from other compounds through chemical reactions.
 
 
 
Human creativity, which can be used for good or ill purposes, has exploited serine's role in the active site of the enzyme acetylcholine esterase to produce both nerve gases, such as Sarin that causes painful deaths in humans, and insecticides, which are designed to increase human agricultural productivity and prosperity. (See [[#Function|function]] below.)
 
 
 
Serine's three letter code is Ser, its one letter code is S, its codons are AGU and AGC, and its systematic name is 2-Amino-3-hydroxypropanoic acid  (IUPAC-IUB 1983). The name serine was derived from the Latin for silk, "sericum," since serine was first isolated from silk protein. While the amino acids [[glycine]] and [[alanine]] make up the bulk of silk protein, it is also a rich source of serine.
 
 
 
Threonine Thr T 2-Amino-3-hydroxybutanoic
 
acid e CH3-CH(OH)-CH(NH2)-COOH
 
  
 
==Structure==
 
==Structure==
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Serine has the chemical formula HO-CH<sub>2</sub>-CH(NH<sub>2</sub>)-COOH (alternatively, HO<sub>2</sub>C-CH(NH<sub>2</sub>)-CH<sub>2</sub>-OH), or more generally, C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>7</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>.
 
Serine has the chemical formula HO-CH<sub>2</sub>-CH(NH<sub>2</sub>)-COOH (alternatively, HO<sub>2</sub>C-CH(NH<sub>2</sub>)-CH<sub>2</sub>-OH), or more generally, C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>7</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>.
  
Threonine Thr T 2-Amino-3-hydroxybutanoic
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with the [[chemical formula]] HO<sub>2</sub>CCH(NH<sub>2</sub>)CH(OH)CH<sub>3</sub>.
acid e CH3-CH(OH)-CH(NH2)-COOH  
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 +
 
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CH3-CH(OH)-CH(NH2)-COOH  
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Serine, like [[threonine]], has a short group ended with a hydroxyl group. The hydroxyl group attached makes it a polar amino acid. Its hydrogen is easy to remove, so serine and threonine often act as hydrogen donors in [[enzyme]]s. Both are very hydrophilic, therefore the outer regions of soluble proteins tend to be rich with them.
 
Serine, like [[threonine]], has a short group ended with a hydroxyl group. The hydroxyl group attached makes it a polar amino acid. Its hydrogen is easy to remove, so serine and threonine often act as hydrogen donors in [[enzyme]]s. Both are very hydrophilic, therefore the outer regions of soluble proteins tend to be rich with them.
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This [[essential amino acid]] is classified as [[polar]].  Together with [[serine]] and [[tyrosine]], threonine is one of three proteinogenic amino acids bearing an alcohol group.
  
 
Behaves similarly to serine.  
 
Behaves similarly to serine.  
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The threonine residue is susceptible to numerous [[posttranslational modification]]s. The hydroxy [[side chain]] can undergo O-linked [[glycosylation]].  Additionally, threonine residues undergo [[phosphorylation]] through the action of a threonine [[kinase]].  In its phosphorylated form, it can be referred to as phosphothreonine.
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====Allo-threonine====
 
====Allo-threonine====

Revision as of 00:43, 28 June 2007

Threonine
Systematic name (2S,3R)-2-Amino-
3-hydroxybutanoic acid
Abbreviations Thr
T
Chemical formula C4H9NO3
Molecular mass 119.12 g mol-1
Melting point 256 °C
Density ? g cm-3
Isoelectric point 5.60
pKa 2.20
8.96
PubChem 6288
CAS number [72-19-5]
EINECS number 200-774-1
SMILES C[C@@H](O)[C@H](N)C(O)=O
Chemical structure of ThreonineChemical structure of Threonine
Disclaimer and references

Threonine is an α-amino acid that is common in many proteins and together with serine and tyrosine is one of three proteinogenic amino acids bearing an alcohol group. Like serine, threonine is sometimes in substantial concentrations in the outer regions of soluble proteins due to its hydrophilic nature. With an easily removed hydrogen on the hydroxyl side chain, threonine is often a hydrogen donor in enzymes.

The L-isomer of threonine, which is the only form that is involved in protein synthesis, is one of the 20 standard amino acids common in animal proteins and required for normal functioning in humans. Threonine is also classified as an "essential amino acid" since it cannot be synthesized by the human body from other compounds through chemical reactions and thus has to be taken in with the diet.

Threonine's three letter code is Thr, its one letter code is T, its codons are ACU and ACA, and its systematic name is 2-Amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid (IUPAC-IUB 1983).

Structure

In biochemistry, the term amino acid is frequently used to refer specifically to alpha amino acids: those amino acids in which the amino and carboxylate groups are attached to the same carbon, the so-called α–carbon (alpha carbon). The general structure of these alpha amino acids is:

     R
     |
 H2N-C-COOH
     |
     H

where R represents a side chain specific to each amino acid.

Most amino acids occur in two possible optical isomers, called D and L. The L amino acids represent the vast majority of amino acids found in proteins. They are called proteinogenic amino acids. As the name "proteinogenic" (literally, protein building) suggests, these amino acid are encoded by the standard genetic code and participate in the process of protein synthesis. In serine, only the L-stereoisomer is involved in synthesis of mammalian proteins.

Serine has the chemical formula HO-CH2-CH(NH2)-COOH (alternatively, HO2C-CH(NH2)-CH2-OH), or more generally, C3H7NO3.

with the chemical formula HO2CCH(NH2)CH(OH)CH3.


CH3-CH(OH)-CH(NH2)-COOH


Serine, like threonine, has a short group ended with a hydroxyl group. The hydroxyl group attached makes it a polar amino acid. Its hydrogen is easy to remove, so serine and threonine often act as hydrogen donors in enzymes. Both are very hydrophilic, therefore the outer regions of soluble proteins tend to be rich with them.

This essential amino acid is classified as polar. Together with serine and tyrosine, threonine is one of three proteinogenic amino acids bearing an alcohol group.

Behaves similarly to serine.


The threonine residue is susceptible to numerous posttranslational modifications. The hydroxy side chain can undergo O-linked glycosylation. Additionally, threonine residues undergo phosphorylation through the action of a threonine kinase. In its phosphorylated form, it can be referred to as phosphothreonine.


Allo-threonine

With two chiral centers, threonine can exist in four possible stereoisomers, or two possible diastereomers of L-threonine. However, the name L-threonine is used for one single enantiomer, (2S,3R)-2-amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid. The second diastereomer (2S,3S), which is rarely present in nature, is called L-allo-threonine.

Biosynthesis

As an essential amino acid, threonine is not synthesized in humans, hence we must ingest threonine or, more commonly, threonine-containing proteins. In plants and microorganisms, threonine is synthesized from aspartic acid via α-aspartyl-semialdehyde and homoserine. Homoserine undergoes O-phosphorylation; this phosphate ester undergoes hydrolysis concomitant with relocation of the OH group.[1] Enzymes involved in a typical biosynthesis of threonine include:

  1. aspartokinase
  2. α-aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase
  3. homoserine dehydrogenase
  4. homoserine kinase
  5. threonine synthase
Threonine biosynthesis

Metabolism

Threonine is metabolized in two ways:

  • It is converted to pyruvate
  • It is converted to alpha-ketobutyrate, and thereby enter the pathway leading to succinyl CoA.

Synthesis

Racemic threonine can be prepared from crotonic acid by alpha-functionalization using mercury(II) acetate.[2]

Sources

Foods high in threonine include cottage cheese, poultry, fish, meat, lentils, and sesame seeds.[citation needed]

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  1. Nelson, D. L.; Cox, M. M. "Lehninger, Principles of Biochemistry" 3rd Ed. Worth Publishing: New York, 2000. ISBN 1-57259-153-6.
  2. Carter, H. E.; West, H. D. (1955). "dl-Threonine". Org. Synth.; Coll. Vol. 3: 813. 


External links

Template:ChemicalSources


Major families of biochemicals
Peptides | Amino acids | Nucleic acids | Carbohydrates | Nucleotide sugars | Lipids | Terpenes | Carotenoids | Tetrapyrroles | Enzyme cofactors | Steroids | Flavonoids | Alkaloids | Polyketides | Glycosides
Analogues of nucleic acids:The 20 Common Amino AcidsAnalogues of nucleic acids:
Alanine (dp) | Arginine (dp) | Asparagine (dp) | Aspartic acid (dp) | Cysteine (dp) | Glutamic acid (dp) | Glutamine (dp) | Glycine (dp) | Histidine (dp) | Isoleucine (dp) | Leucine (dp) | Lysine (dp) | Methionine (dp) | Phenylalanine (dp) | Proline (dp) | Serine (dp) | Threonine (dp) | Tryptophan (dp) | Tyrosine (dp) | Valine (dp)

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