Aspartate Family
Essential amino acids are grouped based on chemical similarity. Lysine, methionine and threonine are members of the aspartate family of essential amino acids, and are found in both immature and mature soybeans. Lysine is incorporated into many important proteins and is particularly important for your bone, muscle and joint health. Methionine is one of only two amino acids that contain sulfur. Your body uses methionine to form the chemical S-adenosyl-L-methionine, better known as SAMe. This chemical participates in many metabolic processes in several organs, including your brain and liver. Threonine has a region that commonly reacts with phosphate molecules. The addition of phosphate to amino acids like threonine is important in activating and deactivating proteins.