methionine

[ me-thahy-uh-neen, -nin ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. an amino acid, CH 3 SCH 2 CH 2 CH(NH 2 )COOH, found in casein, wool, and other proteins or prepared synthetically: used as a supplement to a special diet in the prevention and treatment of certain liver diseases. : Met; : M

methionine

/ -ˌnaɪn; mɛˈθaɪəˌniːn /

noun

1. an essential amino acid containing sulphur, which occurs in many proteins: important in methylating reactions

methionine

/ mə-thī′ə-nēn′ /

1. An essential amino acid. Chemical formula: C 5 H 11 NO 2 S.
2. See more at amino acid

Word History and Origins

Origin of methionine¹

First recorded in 1925–30; blend of methyl and thionine ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of methionine¹

C20: meth- + thionine

Example Sentences

Limiting the essential amino acid methionine appears to amplify the effects of radiation and chemotherapy in mice with colon cancer and sarcomas.

From Science Magazine

If farmers cannot use methionine, their thinking goes, industrial-style organic chicken farms will no longer be viable.

From Salon

Supplementation of methionine, another amino acid whose synthesis requires large amounts of NADPH, also improves the tolerance of cells to diamide6.

From Nature

Moreover, the K27M mutation affects not only the histone gene in which it occurs; in fact, the methionine broadly inhibits the enzyme that adds methyl groups to lysines in histones.

From Nature

Furthermore, there are other pathways5, in addition to that of histidine degradation, for example degradation of the amino acid methionine, that can affect the THF level in cells.

From Nature