Glycine

Glycine is a colourless, sweet-tasting crystalline solid. It is unique among the [|proteinogenic amino acids] in that it is not [|chiral]. It can fit into [|hydrophilic] or [|hydrophobic] environments, due to its two hydrogen atom side chain. Glycine was discovered in 1820 The principal function of glycine is as a precursor to proteins. It is also a building block to numerous natural products.
 * Glycine** (abbreviated as **Gly** or **G**) [|[4]] is an [|organic compound] with the [|formula] NH2CH2COOH. Having a [|hydrogen] substituent as its [|side-chain], glycine is the smallest of the 20 [|amino acids] commonly found in [|proteins] . Its [|codons] are GGU, GGC, GGA, GGG cf. the [|genetic code].

Glycine is manufactured industrially by treating chloroacetic acid with ammonia:[6]ClCH2COOH + 2 NH3 → H2NCH2COOH + NH4ClAbout 15 million kg are produced annually in this way

insoluble in [|ether] || []
 * ~ Properties ||
 * [|Molecular formula] || C 2 H 5 NO 2 ||
 * [|Molar mass] || 75.07 g mol −1 ||
 * Appearance || white solid ||
 * [|Density] || 1.607 g/cm 3 ||
 * [|Melting point] || 233 °C (decomposition) ||
 * [|Solubility] in [|water] || 24.99 g/100 mL (25 °C)[|[2]] ||
 * [|Solubility] || soluble in [|ethanol] ,[|pyridine]
 * [|Acidity] (p//K// a ) || 2.34 (carboxyl), 9.6 (amino)[|[3]] ||

The body uses glycine to make proteins. Glycine is also involved in the transmission of chemical signals in the brain, so there is interest in trying it for schizophrenia and improving memory. Some researchers think glycine may have a role in cancer prevention because it seems to interfere with the blood supply needed by certain tumors.  Glycine is an amino acic, but it's not considered "essential," because the body makes it from other chemicals. A typical diet contains about 2 grams of glycine a day. It comes from sources that are rich in protein including meat, fish, dairy, and legumes. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: Arial,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Glycine is used for treating schizophrenia, strokes, benign prostatic hyperplasia and some other metabolic disorders. It can also be used to protect kidneys from harmful side effects of certain drugs, as well as the liver from harmful effects of alcohol.