BIS 102 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4.1: Alpha And Beta Carbon, Aspartic Acid, Arginine
Document Summary
Amino acids building blocks of proteins: intrinsic properties of amino acids are important to their diversity, capacity to polymerize, novel acid-base properties, varied structure and chemical functionality in amino acid side chains, chirality. Typical amino acid structure tetrahedral alpha carbon (in center), covalently bonded to amino groups and carbonyl group. Also has side chain bonded which gives it its identity: carboxyl group or amino group = side chain. Amino acid polymerizes to form peptides and proteins because of amino and carboxyl group. Peptide bond covalent amide linkage between amino and carboxyl groups of amino acids (water is removed in this reaction) Most useful way to classify amino acids polarity of side chains: four categories, nonpolar/hydrophobic amino acids, neutral/uncharged polar amino acids, acidic amino acids, basic amino acids. 1 letter abbreviations are usually phonetic in origin. Very important for processes involving folding protein chains (forms natural structures)
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