Amino Acids/Biochemistry

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Amino Acids are the building block of

proteins
There are 20 commonly occurring amino acids.They have
- the capacity to polymerize
- varied structures
- chemical functions in the amino acids chains
- chirality
All amino acids except for proline have both

free α-amino and free α-carboxyl groups
Amino acids are classified as
- non-polar or hydrophobic
- neutral but polar amino acids
- acidic amino acids
- basic amino acids
Non polar amino acids. Include the amino acids with alkyl chain R groups
- alanine
- valine
- leucine
- isoleucine
- proline (cyclic structure)
- methionine (sulfur containing amino acid)
- phenylalanine
- tryptophan (aromatic)
Polar uncharged amino acids
- contain R groups that can make H bonds with water (except for glycine)
- are more soluble in water than hydrophobic amino acids
- tyrosine has the lowest solubility in water
- proline is very soluble in water
Good H-bond formation groups
- amide group of asparagine and glutamine
- hydroxyl group of tyrosine, threonine, and serine
- sulfhydryl group of cystein
Glycine

has a single R group for H-bond formation
Acidic amino acids
- aspartic acid and Glutamic acid
- contain a carboxyl group in their R side chain
- they exist as COO- in neutral pH
- proteins with negatively charged aa bind to metal ions
- carboxyl groups can act as nucleophile in enzyme reactions
Basic amino acids
- histidine – imidazolium group
- arginine – Guanidinium group
- lysine – Protonated alkyl group