Amino Acids Classifications

Question 0

What are the properties of hydrophilic uncharged side chains?

Answer 0

• these tend to have partial +ve or -ve charge so they can participate in chemical reactions
• I.e. Form hydrogen bond, and associate with water

Question 1

What are the properties of amino acids with hydrophilic polar charged side chains?

Answer 1

• they are fully charged under physiological conditions i.e. pH
• side chains tend to form ionic bonds
• are often involved in chemical reactions

Question 2

What are the properties of amino acids with hydrophobic nonpolar side chains?

Answer 2

• side chains consists mostly of C and H atoms
• amino acids tend to form the inner core of soluble proteins buried away from aqueous media
• amino acids play important roles in membranes by associating with the lipid bilayer

Question 3

Define the term amphipatic?

Answer 3

Residues that have both polar and nonpolar character

-these amino acids are ideal for interface formation between hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules