The secret of Amino acids

Do you know what amino acids are？
Amino acids are essential to all living things, including humans, animals, plants, and even microbes.

Why are they so important?

Because amino acids are the building blocks of proteins constitute about 20% of our bodies.

What is the role of amino acids then?

Amino acids link together to form proteins, not just as an important part of our body tissue…

Amino acids also regulate and maintain our body by becoming enzymes or hormones supplying energy to our body!

We can’t live without amino acids. They are essential!

Have you ever thought about the origins of human life?
There are several theories about the origin of life, however, whatever the theory, amino acids are always considered to be “the source of life’”.

It is known that amino acids existed in the meteorites that crossed the universe. However, the possibility that the amino acids on earth were absorbed, when the meteorite fell that on the earth, cannot be ruled out.

In June 2022, it was announced that the sand from the asteroid Ryuguu, brought back by the spacecraft “Hayabusa 2” contained about 20 amino acids. Therefore, for the very first time, it was proved that amino acids, the ‘source of life’, existed, not only on earth, but also in the universe.

We’re not yet sure whether there is life-form in the universe, but amino acids hold the key to unlock the fabulous mysteries of the universe.

I know how important amino acids are in our life, but how are they produced?

Let’s take a look at the production process of glutamic acids, one of the major components of protein. This is also known as the substance of “umami”, one of the basic tastes.

Just as lactic acid bacteria ferment milk sugar into lactic acid when making yoghurt, glutamic acid bacteria ferment the sugar from raw materials into glutamic acids.

Then where does this sugar come from? The sugar necessary for fermentation comes from various raw materials such as beets, sugarcane, cassava that are easily available in each region!

After a great deal of research, a Japanese scientist discovered that glutamic acids were more soluble in water when they were bounded by sodium. The umami flavor was discovered!

This was the beginning of “AJI-NO-MOTO®”, the world’s first umami seasoning!