Amino Acids Flashcards
There are how many amino acids?
20
All amino acids exist in what form?Are there any exceptions?
L form
Glycine is an exception
Why is glycine not in the L-form?
It does NOT have a chiral carbon.
What is a chiral carbon?
A carbon with different compounds at each binding site.
All amino acids are
amphoteric
Amphoteric means they can act as?
Acid or Base
What determines the function of the amino acid?
R group or side chain
What are the essential amino acids? PVT TIM HALL
phenylalanine
valine
tryptophan
threonine
isoleucine
methionine
histidine
arginine
leucine
lysine
What is essential in a CHILD but NOT in adult?
histidine
What are the purely KETOGENIC amino acids? (degraded into acetyl coA)
leucine and lysine
What is a precursor to carnitine
lysine
Carnitine takes what into the mitochondria and for what?
FA for Beta Oxidation
What are the AROMATIC amino acids? (aromatic ring in side chain)
phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan
Which 2 aromatic AAs are essential
phenylalanine and tryptophan
What are the SULFUR containing amino acids?
cysteine, methionine, cystine
A cystine is
2 cysteines linked together
What are the BRANCHED CHAIN amino acids
isoleucine, leucine, valine
What disease is due to the inability to break down branched chain AA
Maple Syrup Urine Disease