asparagine
|as-par-a-gine|
/əˈspærəˌdʒiːn/
asparagus-derived amino acid
Etymology
'asparagine' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'asparagina' (from 'asparagus'), where 'asparagus' referred to the plant from which the substance was first isolated and the suffix '-ine' is used for nitrogen-containing organic compounds.
'asparagine' changed from the New Latin word 'asparagina' (coined after the plant 'asparagus') and eventually became the modern English word 'asparagine'.
Initially, it meant 'a substance obtained from asparagus', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the amino acid asparagine (Asn) present in proteins'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an α-amino acid (symbol Asn or N) with an amide side chain; one of the 20 standard amino acids found in proteins.
Asparagine plays a role in protein biosynthesis and is found in many enzymes and structural proteins.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/30 08:04