aspartic acid (Asp) /aspär″tik/ , a nonessential amino acid present in sugar cane, beet molasses, and breakdown products of many proteins. Pure aspartic acid is a water-soluble, colorless crystalline substance. Aspartic acid is interconvertible with oxaloacetic acid from the citric acid cycle. Aspartic acid is used in culture media, dietary supplements, detergents, fungicides, and germicides. Also called aminosuccinic acid. See also amino acid, protein.
