Methionine

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Methionine (Met, M. C₅H₁₁NO₂S) is a essential nonpolar amino acid, and a lipotropic.

It and cysteine are the only sulfur containing amino acids that are coded for by DNA (Homocysteine is an amino acid and contains sulfur, but is a product of S-adenosylmethionine 1 carbon metabolism and is not coded for by DNA). Methionine is a methyl donor as S-adenosyl methionine (SAM). It is incorporated into the N-terminal position of all proteins in eukaryotes and archaea, though it may be removed by post-translational modification (bacteria incorporate N-formyl methionine instead). Methionine can also occur at other positions in the protein. It plays a role in cysteine, carnitine and taurine synthesis by the transsulfuration pathway, lecithin production, the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine and other phospholipids. Improper conversion of methionine can lead to atherosclerosis. Methionine is a chelating agent.

Methionine is one of only two amino acids encoded by just one codon (AUG) in the standard genetic code (tryptophan, encoded by UGG, is the other).