1. All natural proteins were found to be built from a repertoire of 20 standard a-amino acids The earliest studies of proteins focused on the free amino acids derived from these proteins. The lst amino acid(asparagine) was discovered in 1806 from asparagus(a green vegetable). The last(threonine)was not identified until 1938 All the amino acids were given a trivial(common) name. Glutamate from wheat gluten(sticky). Tyrosine from cheese(“ tyros” in greek1. All natural proteins were found to be built from a repertoire of 20 standard -amino acids The earliest studies of proteins focused on the free amino acids derived from these proteins. •The 1st amino acid (asparagine) was discovered in 1806 from asparagus (a green vegetable). •The last (threonine) was not identified until 1938! •All the amino acids were given a trivial (common) name. Glutamate from wheat gluten (sticky). Tyrosine from cheese (“tyros” in Greek)