methionine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Specialized/Technical)Highly technical/scientific. Used almost exclusively in fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, nutrition, medicine, and animal feed science.
Quick answer
What does “methionine” mean?
An essential sulfur-containing amino acid, crucial for protein synthesis and numerous metabolic processes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An essential sulfur-containing amino acid, crucial for protein synthesis and numerous metabolic processes.
In biochemistry and nutrition, methionine serves as a methyl group donor in various biological reactions, influences gene expression, and is a precursor to other important compounds like cysteine and glutathione. It is often discussed in contexts of protein quality, vegan diets, and metabolic health.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA).
Connotations
Neutral and technical in both variants.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialized in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “methionine” in a Sentence
[Noun] is rich/poor in methionine.The protein contains [number] methionine residues.[Subject] requires/depends on methionine for [process].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “methionine” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The methionine-dependent pathway was investigated.
- Methionine metabolism is complex.
American English
- Researchers studied the methionine-restricted diet.
- The methionine synthase enzyme is crucial.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in reports for animal feed additive companies or pharmaceutical/nutraceutical industries.
Academic
Primary context. Found in research papers, textbooks, and lectures on biochemistry, nutrition, and molecular biology.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Possibly in discussions of vegan nutrition or specialized diets.
Technical
The dominant context. Used precisely in laboratory protocols, clinical nutrition, and biochemical analyses.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “methionine”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “methionine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “methionine”
- Misspelling: 'methianine', 'methyonine'.
- Mispronunciation: putting stress on the first syllable /ˈmɛθ/ instead of the second.
- Confusing it with other amino acids like 'cysteine' or 'taurine'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Beyond protein synthesis, methionine is vital for methyl group transfers (affecting DNA and metabolism), antioxidant production (via glutathione), and synthesizing other molecules like cysteine.
Yes, in theory. While essential, excessive intake, especially without other co-factors, has been linked in some research to potential negative metabolic effects. Balance with other amino acids is key.
M.
In genetics, the codon AUG codes for methionine and also serves as the 'start' signal for ribosomes to begin translating mRNA into a protein.
An essential sulfur-containing amino acid, crucial for protein synthesis and numerous metabolic processes.
Methionine is usually highly technical/scientific. used almost exclusively in fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, nutrition, medicine, and animal feed science. in register.
Methionine: in British English it is pronounced /mɪˈθaɪ.ə.niːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈθaɪ.əˌniːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: METHionine - Contains a METHyl group (CH3) which it can donate. Or link the 'thio' part to sulfur (as in other chemicals).
Conceptual Metaphor
Often framed as a 'building block' (for proteins) or a 'key' (that initiates protein synthesis as the start codon). In nutrition, can be a 'limiting factor' in plant-based diets.
Practice
Quiz
Why is methionine a particular concern in vegan nutrition?