BB1702 amino acids Flashcards
what are the main properties of amino acids?
- 20 different amino acids
- alpha
- have negative and positive charge
- alpha carbon
properties of alpha carbon
- acidic carboxyl group
- basic amino group
- hydrogen connected to carbon
- closer to carboxyl group in proteins
what’s the importance of amino acid structure?
structure correlates to function
what are GABA amino acids?
neurotransmitters in the brain
NH2 attached to y
how can amino acids be organised?
stereoisomers
chiral carbon
enantiomers
what is a stereoisomer?
same molecular formula and bonding but different 3d oritentation of atoms
what is a chiral carbon atom?
carbon with four different groups bonded to it
which amino acid is not chiral?
glycine
what is an enantiomer?
- stereoisomers that are non superimposable mirror images
- can either be L or D
what is an L amino acid?
- consitiuents of proteins
- more soluble than a racemic mixture of D and L, form crystals
- more dominant in solution due to solubility difference
what are D amino acids?
rare
found in bacteria
what is the ionisation behaviour of amino acids?
- can be placed in five groups due to characteristics, depending on their r group
- 7/20 amino acids have readily ionisable side chains, able to donate or accept protons to dacilitate reactions and form ionic bonds
how can amino acids be organised?
- nonpolar aliphatic
- aromatic
- polar uncharged
- positively charged
- negatively charged
properties of non polar aliphatic amino acids?
- R groups consist of hydrocarbon chains, except glycine and methionine
- side chains are hydrophobic as they cluster together rather than contact water
- different sizes and shapes of hydrocarbon side chains enable them to pack together to form compact structures with little empty space
examples of nonpolar aliphatic amino acids?
- glycine
- alanine
- proline
- valine
- leucine
- isoleucine
- methionine
methionine
contains an aliphatic side chain
includes thioether group
isoleucine
side chain includes an additional chiral centre
proline
has a pyrrolidine ring structure
side chain bonded to alpha carbon and nitrogen
cycle structure makes it more conformationally restricted
examples of aromatic amino acids?
phenylalanine
tyrosine
tryptophan
phenylalanine
has a phenyl ring in place of H atom of alanine
purely hydrophobic
tryptophan
indole group, two fused rings containing NH group, joined to methylene, a double ring, benzene and nitrogen
less hydrophobic due to side chain NH group
tyrosine
version of phenylalanine
hydroxyl group attached to hydrophobic side chain
hydroxyl group makes amino acid more hydrophilic and reactive
examples of polar uncharged amino acids?
serine
cysteine
threonine
asparagine
glutamine
serine
version of alanine with hydroxyl group attached
cysteine
similar to serine
contains sulfhydryl
sulfydryl is more reactive than OH, groups may form disulfide bonds
important for stabilising proteins
threonine
contains additional asymmetric centre with one isomer present
asparine and glutamine
both contain terminal carboxamide
side chain of glutamine is one methyl group longer
examples of positvely charged amino acids?
lysine
arginine
histidine