Amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the fundamental building blocks of peptides and proteins. Each amino acid contains a characteristic chemical structure with an amino group and a carboxyl group, allowing them to link together in chains.
There are twenty standard amino acids used by the human body to construct proteins. Some are produced internally, while others, termed essential amino acids, must be obtained through diet.
The sequence in which amino acids are arranged determines the identity and properties of the resulting peptide or protein, making them foundational to biochemistry and to the study of peptide-based compounds.