threonine

noun

thre·​o·​nine ˈthrē-ə-ˌnēn How to pronounce threonine (audio)
: a colorless crystalline essential amino acid C4H9NO3

Examples of threonine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The name refers to amino acids involved in two new mutations on the virus’s spike protein: phenylalanine (F), leucine (L), arginine (R) and threonine (T). Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 5 June 2024 Corn, for example — considered a dietary staple by many people — is missing the essential amino acids tryptophan, lysine and threonine. Ascend Agency, Baltimore Sun, 1 Mar. 2024 These variants are offshoots of Omicron and get their name from their spike protein mutations: The amino phenylalanine (abbreviated as F) replaces the amino acid leucine (abbreviated as L), while the amino acid arginine (R) is replaced by threonine (T). Korin Miller, Verywell Health, 8 May 2024 High-quality protein is any protein that contains all of the nine essential amino acids (histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine) that our bodies don’t make on their own. USA TODAY, 2 July 2023 Repeats with a lot of proline, threonine and serine transform a typical protein to a mucin because of the polypeptide structure that is formed. Coren Walters-Stewart, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2022 The nine essential amino acids are: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2022 In both types, a protein backbone is studded with strings of sugars called glycans that are linked to either the amino acid asparagine (N-Glycans) or to the amino acids serine and threonine (O-Glycans). Diana Kwon, Discover Magazine, 9 July 2019 For example, the base series ACG encode the amino acid threonine. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 11 June 2022

Word History

Etymology

probably from threonic acid (C4H8O5)

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of threonine was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near threonine

Cite this Entry

“Threonine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threonine. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

threonine

noun
thre·​o·​nine ˈthrē-ə-ˌnēn How to pronounce threonine (audio)
: a colorless crystalline essential amino acid C4H9NO3 that is found in various proteins
abbreviation Thr

More from Merriam-Webster on threonine

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!