Amino acids are now recognised as having multiple cellular functions in addition to their traditional role as constituents of proteins. This is well-illustrated in the early mammalian embryo where amino acids are now known to be involved in intermediary metabolism, as energy substrates, in signal transduction, osmoregulation and as intermediaries in numerous pathways which involve nitrogen metabolism, e.g., the biosynthesis of purines, pyrimidines, creatine and glutathione. The amino acid derivative S-adenosylmethionine has emerged as a universal methylating agent with a fundamental role in epigenetic regulation. Amino acids are now added routinely to preimplantation embryo culture media. This review examines the routes by which amino acids are supplied to the early embryo, focusing on the role of the oviduct epithelium, followed by an outline of their general fate and function within the embryo. Functions specific to individual amino acids are then considered. The importance of amino acids during the preimplantation period for maternal health and that of the conceptus long term, which has come from the developmental origins of health and disease concept of David Barker, is discussed and the review concludes by considering the potential utility of amino acid profiles as diagnostic of embryo health.

中文翻译：

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氨基酸和早期哺乳动物胚胎：起源、命运、功能和终身遗产

除了作为蛋白质成分的传统作用之外，氨基酸现在被认为具有多种细胞功能。这在早期哺乳动物胚胎中得到了很好的说明，现在已知氨基酸参与中间代谢、作为能量底物、信号转导、渗透调节以及作为涉及氮代谢的众多途径的中间体，例如，嘌呤的生物合成，嘧啶、肌酸和谷胱甘肽。氨基酸衍生物 S-腺苷甲硫氨酸已成为一种通用的甲基化剂，在表观遗传调控中具有基本作用。现在通常将氨基酸添加到植入前胚胎培养基中。本综述检查了向早期胚胎提供氨基酸的途径，重点关注输卵管上皮的作用，然后是它们在胚胎中的总体命运和功能的概述。然后考虑特定于单个氨基酸的功能。讨论了氨基酸在胚胎植入前时期对母体健康和长期概念的重要性，这来自大卫巴克的健康和疾病概念的发展起源，并通过考虑氨基酸的潜在效用来结束评论配置文件作为胚胎健康的诊断。