aspartic acid

[ uh-spahr-tik ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. a nonessential amino acid, C 4 H 7 NO 4 , produced by the hydrolysis of asparagine and proteins, found chiefly in young sugarcane and sugar-beet molasses, and used in the preparation of culture media and as a dietary supplement. : Asp; : D

aspartic acid

/ əˈspɑːtɪk /

noun

1. a nonessential amino acid that is a component of proteins and acts as a neurotransmitter

aspartic acid

/ ə-spär′tĭk /

1. A nonessential amino acid. Chemical formula: C 4 H 7 NO 4 .
2. See more at amino acid

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspartic acid¹

First recorded in 1830–40; aspar(agus) + -tic

Word History and Origins

Origin of aspartic acid¹

C19: from aspar ( agus ) + -ic

Example Sentences

These metabolites include phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol.

From Salon

The WHO reports show that aspartame itself is rapidly broken down in the gut into three other substances - phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methanol.

From BBC

Both German sequences carried an aspartic acid at the position, however, making that scenario unlikely.

From Science Magazine

Methods include looking at aspartic acid, an amino acid that is produced in living organisms in one of two forms, then slowly converts to the other in inert tissues through a process called racemization.

From Nature

Crassicorophium goo, by contrast, is dominated by lysine, glycine and aspartic acid.

From Economist