LIFESCI 7A Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Alpha And Beta Carbon, Protein Folding, Carboxylic Acid
Document Summary
Amino acids differ in their side chains: general structure of amino acid: central carbon atom (alpha carbon), 4 diff groups connected by covalent bonds: amino group (nh2, cooh, h, and. R group (a variable side chain)) ph is 7. 35-7. 45 in environment of cell--> amino group gains proton to become nh3+, and carboxyl group loses proton to become coo- 4 covalent bonds from the alpha carbon are at equal angles (tetrahedral!) 20 amino acids grouping emphasis on hydrophobic or hydrophilic or other special characteristics (affect how polypeptide folds) Hydrophobic has nonpolar r groups with hydrocarbon chains or uncharged carbon rings. Hydrophobic amino acids don"t readily form hydrogen ponds, so water molecules in cell form h bonds with each other and the hydrophobic r groups aggregate with each other. This aggregation is stabilized by van der waals. R groups of basic and acidic amino acids are strongly polar. Basic amino acids gain proton in ph of cell.
