Essential Amino Acid - Mnemonics

Mnemonics

Using the one-letter designation shown above, mnemonic devices have been developed for use in memorizing the essential amino acids. Previous devices have utilized the first letter of the amino acids' names, and in general did not include arginine which is not always essential. Mnemonic devices in common use are PVT TIM HaLL and TT HALL V(ery) IMP(ortant).

Alternative mnemonics based on the amino acids' assigned single letters include LIFT HIM KIW(V)I and TV FILM HW(R)K. Such mnemonics are preferable, since they avoid confusion between amino acids sharing the same first letter (Alanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid and Asparagine, for example - only one of which, arginine, is a (conditionally) essential amino acid). Similar confusion arises between Thr, Tyr and Trp - only one of which (Tyr) is nonessential.

Another method uses the first letter of each essential amino acid to begin each word in a phrase, such as: "Any Help In Learning These Little Molecules Proves Truly Valuable." This method begins with the two amino acids that need some qualifications as to their requirements.w Also, There was fat man hated vanilla icing, loved Kit-Kats.

A useful mnemonic sentence using the single-letter code is: The Whole Food Larder Really Must Have Various Key Ingredients.

A medical student may find the following way useful as it distinguishes the glucogenic essential amino acids from the ketogenic essential amino acids:

Gluconeogenic (Val, His, Thr, Met) : "Val and His Three Methods"

Gluconeogenic/Ketogenic (Ile, Trp, Phe) : "Illy Trpped BOTH Pheasants"

Ketogenic (Leu, Lys) : "Ketones in lieu of lysine"