Threonine is an essential amino acid used by the body to synthesize proteins and maintain nitrogen balance. It is a nonpolar, hydrophilic amino acid with a side chain that contributes to protein structure. In biochemistry, threonine participates in metabolic pathways and is represented by the symbol Thr (T).
"The enzyme requires threonine as a substrate in this biosynthetic step."
"Dietary sources like dairy, meat, and legumes provide threonine in the human diet."
"Researchers studied threonine's role in protein turnover under stress conditions."
"During cell culture, threonine availability influenced peptide stability and growth."
Threonine derives from the combination of Greek words threon (to run) and amino-, reflecting its role as an amino acid. The term was coined in the 20th century during the discovery and naming of essential amino acids. The root grecized element threon suggests a link to stages of metabolism and protein synthesis, while -ine is a common suffix for amino acids. First identified in 1935 by William C. Stein and Algernon L. Scott during the isolation of amino acids from casein, threonine’s initial naming reflected its placement among the protein-building blocks. Over time, the stereochemical designation L-threonine became standard, recognizing the biologically active enantiomer in most organisms. The name Threonine is now universally used in biochemistry, nutrition, and clinical contexts to denote this essential, hydroxy-containing amino acid that participates in numerous biosynthetic pathways and protein–peptide interactions.
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Words that rhyme with "Threonine"
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Threonine is pronounced three-uh-neen, with primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈθriːəˌtiːn/ in US and UK dictionaries, though speakers sometimes say /ˈθriː.əˌtiːn/. Start with the 'th' air-flow from the teeth (voiceless), then a long 'ee' vowel, a schwa-like 'uh' in the second syllable, and finish with a long 'teen'.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress (softening the first syllable) and mispronouncing the middle vowel as a pure ‘ee’ instead of a reduced schwa. Some say ‘three-ron-een’ or ‘thre-uh-teen’ instead of the standard ‘three-uh-teen’ flow. To fix: emphasize the first syllable with a clear /θriː/ onset, keep a light mid vowel in the second syllable, and end with a crisp /tiːn/. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the rhythm.
In US and UK, the primary stress sits on the first syllable: /ˈθriːəˌtiːn/ and /ˈθriːəˌtiːn/ respectively, with a rhotic or non-rhotic influence affecting linking rather than core vowels. Australian English tends toward a closer front vowel in the first syllable and a slightly faster, more clipped second syllable, but remains /ˈθriːəˌtiːn/. Overall, the /θr/ onset and /tiːn/ ending stay stable; vowel quality and syllable duration vary subtly by region.
The difficulty lies in the initial /θr/ cluster and the multi-syllable rhythm with a mid-vowel schwa in the middle syllable. The combination of a voiceless dental fricative /θ/ with a rolled or steady /r/ can cause stumbles, especially for speakers who don’t regularly produce /θ/. Additionally, the secondary stress in the third syllable /tiːn/ can mask the correct syllable rhythm. Focus on articulatory timing and a clear /θ/ onset.
Threonine shares the long vowel pattern found in many amino acids ending in -ine, like valine or leucine, but its initial /θr/ onset is less common when compared to many amino acids that begin with a pure consonant or different fricatives. The presence of the dental /θ/ makes it distinctive because some speakers substitute /f/ or misarticulate the dental component. Also, the middle syllable often carries a reduced vowel, unlike more closed, pure vowels in other amino acids.
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