Structural features of amino acids

1. Carboxyl group

2. Amino group

3. Side chain or R-group

4. R groups vary in structure, size and electric charge

5. The -carbon atom is a chiral center.

 Amino Acids
1. Amino acids are the fundamental building blocks of
proteins.

2. Each amino acid each joined to another amino acid

through a covalent bond referred to as the peptide bond
due to the loss of a water molecule.

3. Proteins can be hydrolyzed.

4. Some interesting proteins:

a) Luciferin b) Hemoglobin c) Keratin
Peptide bond
 General properties of Amino Acids
1. There are 20 standard amino acids

2. An amino acid can act either as an acid or base and is amphoteric

3. Molecules that bear charged groups of opposite polarity are known as

zwitterions or dipolar ions.

4. The CO-NH linkage is known as the peptide bond. Polymers composed of

Two residues (dipeptides), three residues (tripeptides), oligopeptides and
polypeptides.

5. Proteins are molecules that consist of one or more polypeptides.

Polypeptides range in length from ~40 to 4000 amino acid residues.
The average mass of an amino acid residue is ~110 Da, therefore the
molecular masses range from ~4 to 440 kDa.
 Non-polar, R groups

Gly (G) Ala (A)

Val (V)

Leu (L) Met (M) Ile (I)

 Aromatic, R groups

Phe (F)
Tyr (Y)

Trp (W)
Polar, uncharged R groups

Ser (S) Thr (T) Cys (C)

Pro (P) Asn (N) Gln (Q)

 Positively charged, R groups

Lys (K) Arg (R) His (H)

Negatively charged, R groups

Asp (D) Glu (E)

1. Amylase starts the process of breaking down starch from food into forms the
body can use.

2. Alcohol dehydrogenase transforms alcohol from beer/wine/liquor into a non-

toxic form that the body uses for food.

3. Hemoglobin carries oxygen in our blood.

4. Fibrin forms a scab to protect cuts as they heal.

5. Collagen gives structure and support to our skin, tendons, and even bones.

6. Actin is one of the major proteins in our muscles.

7. Growth hormone helps regulate the growth of children into adults.

8. Potassium channels help send signals through the brain and other nerve
cells.

9. Insulin regulates the amount of sugar in the blood and is used to treat
diabetes.