The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word DOPA
D
O
P
A
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "amino acid" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case amino acid = dopa.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does DOPA mean?
DOPA noun- The amino acid dihydroxyphenylalanine that is generated in the liver from tyrosine and then converted into dopamine in the brain.