Amino Acids Flashcards
Alanine
Ala
A
Cysteine
Cys
C
Aspartic Acid
Asp
D
Glutamic Acid
Glu
E
Phenylalanine
Phe
F
Glycine
Gly
G
Histidine
His
H
Isoleucine
Ile (ile)
I
Lysine
Lys
K
Leucine
Leu
L
Methionine
Met
M
Asparganine
Asn
N
Proline
Pro
P
Glutamine
Gln
Q
Arginine
Arg
R
Serine
Ser
S
Threonine
Thr
T
Valine
Val
V
Tryptophan
Trp
W
Tyrosine
Tyr
Y
Protein functions
Structure, transport and storage, hormones, and enzymes
The only codon that produces methionine is
ATG
The only codon for tryptophan is
TGG
What are the parts of an amino acid?
Amino group (NH2), carboxyl group (COOH), a functional group (R), and a Hydrogen are all attached to a central alpha carbon
Why is cysteine a unique amino acid?
It contains SH group, which allows cysteine to form disulfide bonds
What is glycine unique?
Glycine has 2 hydrogens; it is achiral*
*Chiral carbon = bonded to 4 different things
What is unique about tryptophan?
It has the largest side chain
Non polar amino acids
Hydrophobic
Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, lle, Pro, Phe, Trp, Met
mnemonic I play: GILVAP on MWF
Which amino acid is an imino acid?
Pro
Which two non polar amino acids have heterocyclic rings in their side chains
Phe and Trp
Polar uncharged amino acids
-Hydrophilic b/c of polar functional groups (o & n which can participate in hydrogen bonding with water)
-glycine is not polar, but is included in this group b/c the H of its R group can be used to H-bond with other polar groups
Skiers Canoeing Talking Yes No Questions
Ser, Thr, Cys, Tyr, Asn, Gln
Polar charged amino acids
DEk HaRd
Asp, Glu, Lys, Arg, His
Lys, Arg, and His are polar basic and carry a plus charge
Asp, and Glu are negatively charged (polar acidic)
Which amino acid can partially meet the need for methionine?
Cysteine
*both contain sulfur
Which amino acid can partially substitute for phenylalanine?
Tyrosine
