![]() For example, threonine is an amino acid whose side chain contains a hydroxyl group, which explains why threonine is polar and hydrophilic,Īmino acids can also be classified based on their chirality. Side chains can make amino acid a weak acid if it is saturated with hydrogen ions, a weak base if has hydroxide groups, hydrophilic if the side chain is polar, and hydrophobic is the side chain is nonpolar. Amino acids can be divided into 4 grou[s based on the characteristics of their side chains. ![]() The chemical nature of a particular amino acid is determined by its R side chain. ![]() The exact composition of the R side chain varies between amino acids. The majority of amino acids encoded in DNA are alpha amino acids.Īmino acids also contain a side chain, denoted by R. All amino acids containing an amino group bonded directly to the alpha carbon are called alpha amino acids. The central carbon atom (the one to the left of the carboxyl group) is the backbone of the amino acid and is denoted the α-carbon (“alpha” carbon). All amino acids contain both an amine (NH 2) and carboxyl (COOH) functional group. Credit: WikiCommons CC0 1.0Īmino acids are organic compounds that are composed mainly of hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen. Transcription and translation are the 2 parts of the overall process of gene expression. During translation ribosomes and tRNA construct the protein from information stored in mRNA. During transcription, information in DNA is copied into the form of mRNA. All in all, human DNA codes for 20 different amino acids. The order of amino acids in the polypeptide chain is specified by the sequence of nucleotide bases in DNA. The structure of proteins is encoded in the form of DNA. The order of amino acids and the 3-D geometry of a protein determine its function. Some proteins only consist of a single polypeptide chain while more complex proteins are made out of multiple polypeptide chains bonded together. In proteins, amino acids are arranged into a linear molecule called a polypeptide chain. The basic building blocks of proteins are called amino acids. It is estimated that the human body contains 50,000-100,000 different kinds of proteins, each of which is specialized to serve some function. Proteins perform a staggering amount of function in the body: forming physical structures, catalyzing metabolic reactions, transporting molecules, signaling between cells, and more. Proteins are one of the most important kinds of molecules necessary for life as we know it. ![]()
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