Amino Acids: Enzymes denature the soybean protein into amino acids such as glutamic acid, aspartic acid, lysine, alanine, glycine, tryptophan and peptides. These acids and peptides not only contribute a full, robust flavor, but many can also act as flavor potentiators. Brewed soy sauce contains between 1.5% and 1.65% total nitrogen (weight per volume), with glutamic acid being the predominant one.