Branched-chain amino acids

A group of three essential amino acids: isoleucine, leucine, and valine. They may be important in promoting muscle growth and repair, particularly after strenuous training. They are the main amino acids used as fuel by exercising muscle. There are claims that BCAA supplements reduce feelings of fatigue, but these claims are still being tested. A new sports drink incorporates BCAAs. Initial findings suggest that it reduces perceived exertion, but that it has little effect on performance.

A group of three essential amino acids: isoleucine, leucine, and valine. They may be important in promoting muscle growth, particularly after strenuous training. They are the main amino acids used as fuel by exercising muscles. Claims that BCAA supplements reduce feelings of fatigue during endurance activities are still being tested.

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The phrase branched-chain amino acids or BCAA is sometimes used to refer to the amino acids having aliphatic side-chains that are non-linear. These are leucine, isoleucine and valine.^[1]

leucine

valine

The combination of these three essential amino acids makes up approximately 1/3 of skeletal muscle in the human body, and plays an important role in protein synthesis. BCAA’s are currently used clinically to aid in the recovery of burn victims, as well as for supplementation for strength athletes.

Contents 1 Degradation 2 References and notes 3 See also 4 External links

Degradation

The body uses branched chain aminotransferase and 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate dehydrogenase to degrade branched-chain amino acids.

References and notes

1. ^ "Branched chain amino acids". LifeHugger. http://mc.lifehugger.com/moc/879/branched_chain_amino_acids. Retrieved 2009-09-23. 

• Karlsson HK, Nilsson PA, Nilsson J, Chibalin AV, Zierath JR, Blomstrand E (2004). "Branched-chain amino acids increase p70S6k phosphorylation in human skeletal muscle after resistance exercise". Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 287 (1): E1–7. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00430.2003. PMID 14998784. 

• Blomstrand E, Eliasson J, Karlsson HK, Köhnke R (2006). "Branched-chain amino acids activate key enzymes in protein synthesis after physical exercise". J. Nutr. 136 (1 Suppl): 269S–73S. PMID 16365096. 

• Norton LE, Layman DK (2006). "Leucine regulates translation initiation of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle after exercise". J. Nutr. 136 (2): 533S–537S. PMID 16424142. 

See also

• Branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex

External links

• MeSH Branched-chain+amino+acids

v • d • e Metabolism map Glucuronate metabolism Pentose interconversion Inositol metabolism Cellulose and sucrose metabolism Starch and glycogen metabolism Other sugar metabolism Pentose phosphate pathway Glycolysis and Gluconeogenesis Amino sugars metabolism Small amino acid synthesis Branched amino acid synthesis Purine biosynthesis Histidine metabolism Aromatic amino acid synthesis Pyruvate decarboxylation Fermentation Fatty acid metabolism Urea cycle Aspartate amino acid group synthesis Porphyrins and corrinoids metabolism Citric acid cycle Glutamate amino acid group synthesis Pyrimidine biosynthesis  v • d • e  All pathway labels on this image are links, simply click to access the article. A high resolution labeled version of this image is available here.

v • d • e The 20 Common Amino Acids ("dp" = data page) Branched-chain amino acids Isoleucine (dp) · Leucine (dp) · Valine (dp) Non Branch-chain Alanine (dp) · Arginine (dp) · Asparagine (dp) · Aspartic acid (dp) · Cysteine (dp) · Glutamic acid (dp) · Glutamine (dp) · Glycine (dp) · Histidine (dp) · Lysine (dp) · Methionine (dp) · Phenylalanine (dp) · Proline (dp) · Serine (dp) · Threonine (dp) · Tryptophan (dp) · Tyrosine (dp) Other classifications Essential amino acids · Ketogenic amino acid · Glucogenic amino acid Major families of biochemicals Saccharides/Carbohydrates/Glycosides · Amino acids/Peptides/Proteins/Glycoproteins · Lipids/Terpenes/Steroids/Carotenoids · Alkaloids/Nucleobases/Nucleic acids · Cofactors/Phenylpropanoids/Polyketides/Tetrapyrroles

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