nutrient
Aspartic acid
A non-essential amino acid that connects nitrogen handling with central metabolism.
Educational draft · Human scientific and editorial review pending. About review status
Aspartate can exchange amino groups and its carbon portion can enter the citric-acid-cycle network.
How it works
A crossroads for nitrogen and carbon
Transamination lets aspartate exchange an amino group with another metabolic intermediate. Its remaining carbon portion can enter the cycle as oxaloacetate.
Related topics
Aspartic acid is used to build Protein
Aspartic acid is one of the amino acids used to assemble proteins.
Evidence: Established · Source checked 2026-09-05 · Sources: NIH National Library of Medicine: Biochemistry, Essential Amino Acids
Worth knowing
Its side chain is usually negatively charged. Aspartate has a second carboxyl group, which commonly carries a negative charge in physiological conditions.
A closer look
Aspartate and asparagine are related
Asparagine is the amide form related to aspartate; the two have different side-chain chemistry and metabolic entry points.
References
Source-checked local draft.
Human editorial review pending.
- NIH National Library of Medicine (opens in new tab)Biochemistry, Essential Amino AcidsChecked 2026-09-05
- NIH National Library of Medicine (opens in new tab)Biochemistry, Protein CatabolismChecked 2026-09-05
- NIH National Library of Medicine (opens in new tab)Biochemistry, Primary Protein StructureChecked 2026-09-05
- NIH National Library of Medicine (opens in new tab)Biochemistry, Collagen SynthesisChecked 2026-09-05
Take it into the kitchen
Explore this nutrient in simple meals. Recipe pages show estimated amounts and missing data.
Paprika chicken potato pepper pan · 25 min →
Pineapple cashew chicken pan · 25 min →
Green bean peanut tofu · 25 min →
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