proline

chemical compound
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/science/proline
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

proline, an amino acid obtained by hydrolysis of proteins. Its molecule contains a secondary amino group (>NH) rather than the primary amino group (>NH2) characteristic of most amino acids. Unlike other amino acids, proline, first isolated from casein (1901), is readily soluble in alcohol. Collagen, the principal protein of connective tissue, yields about 15 percent proline. It is one of several so-called nonessential amino acids; i.e., animals can synthesize it from glutamic acid and do not require dietary sources. The chemical structure of proline isproline, chemical compound

This article was most recently revised and updated by Erik Gregersen.