Amino acids-ehab10f

Amino acids are a set of 20 different molecules used to build proteins. Proteins consist of one or more chains of amino acids called polypeptides. The sequence of the amino acid chain causes the polypeptide to fold into a shape that is biologically active. The amino acid sequences of proteins are encoded in the genes.

Amino acids

General Structure

Central carbon (C^α) attached to: 

•       Hydrogen (H)

•   Amino group (-NH₂)

•  Carboxyl group (-COOH)

•     Side chain (R)

20 Different Amino Acids

20 Different amino acids

1. Enantiomers: The two non-super imposable mirror images. Molecules are classified as D form (Dextrorotatory ) and L (Laevorotatory) form  depending on whether they rotate the plane of plane –polarized light clock wise or anticlockwise.

2.  Naturally occurring amino acids are L (Laevorotatory) form

3. D-form aminoacids are rarely found in bacterial cell walls and certain antibiotics (Gramicidin-S, Polymyxin, Actinomycin-D and Valiomycin)

4.N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM) is a D-aminoacid containing tetrapeptide.

5. Peptide bond: covalent bond formed between the α -amino group of one aminoacid and α -carboxylic group of other forming a -CO-NH- linkage.

Peptide bond

·     Example of condensation reaction

·     Exergonic

·    Rigid plannar

·   Tripeptide means: 3 aminoacids +2 peptide bond

6.         All aminoacids have high melting point more than 200⁰C.

7.         Soluble in water and alcohol, insoluble in non-polar solvents

8.         Aminoacids can exist as ampholytes/Zwitter ions

9.Essential Amino acids:

Arginine(Arg/R), Histidine(His/H), Isoleucine (Ile/I), Leucine (Leu/L), Lysine (Lys/K), Methionine (Met/M), Phenylalanine (Phe/F), Threonine(Thr/T), Tryptophan (Trp/W), Valine (Val/V).

Memory tip:Any Help In Learning These Little Molecule Proves Truly Valuable.

This stands for Arginine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Threonine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Tryptophan, Valine

10. Non Essential Amino acids:

Alanine(Ala/A),Asparagine(Asn/N),Aspartate(Asp/D),Cysteine(Cys/C),Glutamate(Glu/E),Glutamine(Gln/Q),Glycine(Gly/G),Proline(Pro/P),Serine(Ser/S),Tyrosine(Tyr/Y).

11.     Histidine and Arginine are essential amino acids for infants but not healthy adults

12.     Cysteine and Tyrosine are considered to be semi-essential amino acids. They are required by premature infants and adults who are ill.

13.     Simplest amino acid: Glycine
An aminoacid without asymmetrical carbon atom

14.     Acidic aminoacids:    Glutamic acid and Aspartic acid

·                 Glutamic acid -Most common aminoacid undergo oxidative deamination

15.     Basic aminoacids:     Lysine and Arginine

·                 Arginine contain guanidium group

·                 Histones are rich in basic aminoacids

16.     Neutral aminoacids: Glycine, Valine and Phenylalanine

17.     Alcoholic aminoacid: Serine and Threonine

18.     Aromatic aminoacids:  Tryptophan, Tryrosine, Phenylalanine

·  Aromatic aminoacids absorb UV –light .This account for the characterization strong absorbance of light by most proteins at wavelength of 280 nm

·Tryrosine  forms skin pigment melanin and two hormones Adrenaline and Thyroxine

19.     Heterocyclic aminoacids: Tryptophan and Histidine

·        Tryptophan (Bulkiest amino acid) has indole ring

·   Tryptophan: precursor of IAA (Indole 3-acetic acid- plant hormone) and nicotinamide (a  β vitamin )

·        Amino acids with buffering activity-Histidine

·     Histidine :only aminoacid having an ionisable side chain with a pka near neutrality (pk value=6.1)

·      Buffering capacity of plasma proteins and haemoglobin is mainly due to Histidine residues

·    Histidine :more present in active site of an enzymes

·    Histidine contain imidazole group

·  Histidine found in intracellular and extracellular fluids of most animals and plants.

20.      Sulphur containing aminoacid –Cysteine, Methionine

21.      Aminoacids with amide group: Asparagine, Glutamine

22.      Proline (Secondary imino amino acid) is rarely found within alpha helix segments

23.      Selenocysteine: 21^st aminoacid present in human protein.

24.     Un common aminoacids:

·   Collagen (A fibrous protein of connective tissue): 4 hydroxyproline,  5-hydroxyglycine.

·       Myosin (A contractile  protein of muscle):6-N Methyllysine

·   Prothrombin (Blood clotting protein):γ-carboxyglutamate

25.      Non-PROTEIN AMIINO ACIDS:
Ornithine and Citrulline are involved in the biosynthesis of Arginine and in the Urea cycle.

26.  Glutathione is a co enzyme of oxidation –reduction reactions which consist of glutamic acid, glycine and cysteine. This chemical is important in preventing oxidative damage to erythrocytes.

27. Aspartame(Nutrasweet) is artificial sweetner, synthetic dipeptide, chemically it is -L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine

28.      Neurotransmitters

·                 GABA (Gamma Amino Butryic Acid)-a derivative of glutamic acid

·                 Dopamine-derivative of tyrosine

29.     Histamine- histidine derivative, allergic reaction mediator

30.     Amino acids as  helix breakers- Proline-Glycine-Tyrosine-Asparagine

31.     Bend producing amino acid :Glycine-Proline -serine -Threonine

32.     Sickle cell haemoglobin differs from normal haemoglobin by a single amino acid. In the β chain of sickle cell haemoglobin ,a valine (a hydrophobic acid) has replaced a glutamic acid( a negatively charged amino acid)

33.     pI denotes isoelectric point/pH

      pI=1/2(pk1+pk2)

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