Casamino acid

Last updated June 20, 2025

Casamino acid is the mixture of amino acids produced from acid hydrolysis of casein, a family of phosphoproteins found in mammalian milk. In comparison, tryptone describes casein that has undergone enzymatic degradation by the protease trypsin, leaving many smaller peptide chains alongside the free amino acids.^[1]

Casamino acid is used as a component of microbiological growth medium to support protein synthesis. However, tryptophan, an essential amino acid, is lost while digesting the casein with strong acids.^[2] Providing this abundant source of nitrogen can alter the phenotype of microorganisms, such as bacterial species recognizing nutrient-rich media and reducing their motility, as compared to their typical environmental behaviors.^[3]

References

↑ Klemann, S. W.; Li, J. Z.; Imakawa, K.; Cross, J. C.; Francis, H.; Roberts, R. M. (October 1990). "The Production, Purification, and Bioactivity of Recombinant Bovine Trophoblast Protein-1 (Bovine Trophoblast Interferon)" . Molecular Endocrinology . 4 (10): 1506–1514. doi:10.1210/mend-4-10-1506. ISSN 0888-8809. PMID 2178217. S2CID 22254934.
↑ Nagappa, Lakshmeesha K.; Sato, Wakana; Alam, Farzana; Chengan, Kameshwari; Smales, Christopher M.; Von Der Haar, Tobias; Polizzi, Karen M.; Adamala, Katarzyna P.; Moore, Simon J. (2022). "A Ubiquitous Amino Acid Source for Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell-Free Transcription-Translation Systems". Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 10: 992708. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.992708 . ISSN 2296-4185. PMC 9524191 . PMID 36185432.
↑ Samuels, Toby; Pybus, David; Cockell, Charles S. (25 November 2019). "Casamino Acids Slow Motility and Stimulate Surface Growth in an Extreme Oligotroph" . Environmental Microbiology Reports . 12 (1): 63–69. doi:10.1111/1758-2229.12812. hdl: 20.500.11820/4ab305fa-1989-4220-8453-d062af8e81f1 . ISSN 1758-2229. PMID 31769203. S2CID 208298258.

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[1] Klemann, S. W.; Li, J. Z.; Imakawa, K.; Cross, J. C.; Francis, H.; Roberts, R. M. (October 1990). "The Production, Purification, and Bioactivity of Recombinant Bovine Trophoblast Protein-1 (Bovine Trophoblast Interferon)" . Molecular Endocrinology . 4 (10): 1506–1514. doi:10.1210/mend-4-10-1506. ISSN 0888-8809. PMID 2178217. S2CID 22254934.

[2] Nagappa, Lakshmeesha K.; Sato, Wakana; Alam, Farzana; Chengan, Kameshwari; Smales, Christopher M.; Von Der Haar, Tobias; Polizzi, Karen M.; Adamala, Katarzyna P.; Moore, Simon J. (2022). "A Ubiquitous Amino Acid Source for Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell-Free Transcription-Translation Systems". Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 10: 992708. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.992708 . ISSN 2296-4185. PMC 9524191 . PMID 36185432.

[3] Samuels, Toby; Pybus, David; Cockell, Charles S. (25 November 2019). "Casamino Acids Slow Motility and Stimulate Surface Growth in an Extreme Oligotroph" . Environmental Microbiology Reports . 12 (1): 63–69. doi:10.1111/1758-2229.12812. hdl: 20.500.11820/4ab305fa-1989-4220-8453-d062af8e81f1 . ISSN 1758-2229. PMID 31769203. S2CID 208298258.

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