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Threonine

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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

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Definition

Threonine is one of the protein amino acids whose chemical formula is HO2CCH(NH2)CH(OH)CH3. Its three-letter symbol is Thr, and its one-letter symbol is T. As in the case of serine, it has a hydroxyl (−OH) group in its side chain, and it is classified as a polar amino acid. Its molecular weight is 119.12, and its isoelectric point is 6.16. Threonine has two asymmetric carbons (α-carbon and β-carbon) as does isoleucine. Thus, threonine has four stereoisomers: l-threonine, d-threonine, l-allo-threonine, and d-allo-threonine. Only l-threonine is used in biosynthesis of proteins, and it is widely distributed in the biosphere.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yokohama National University, 240-8501, Yokohama, Japan

    Kensei Kobayashi

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  1. Kensei Kobayashi
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Correspondence to Kensei Kobayashi .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Kobayashi, K. (2014). Threonine. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1590-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1590-4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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