Amino acids play central roles both as building blocks of proteins and as intermediates in metabolism. The 20 amino acids that are found within proteins convey a vast array of chemical versatility. The precise amino acid content, and the sequence of those amino acids, of a specific protein, is determined by the sequence of the bases in the gene that encodes that protein. The chemical properties of the amino acids of proteins determine the biological activity of the protein. Proteins not only catalyze all (or most) of the reactions in living cells, they control virtually all cellular process. In addition, proteins contain within their amino acid sequences the necessary information to determine how that protein will fold into a three dimensional structure, and the stability of the resulting structure. The field of protein folding and stability has been a critically important area of research for years, and remains today one of the great unsolved mysteries. It is, however, being actively investigated, and progress is being made every day.
As we learn about amino acids, it is important to keep in mind that one of the more important reasons to understand amino acid structure and properties is to be able to understand protein structure and properties. We will see that the vastly complex characteristics of even a small, relatively simple, protein are a composite of the properties of the amino acids which comprise the protein.
Essential amino acids
Humans can produce 10 of the 20 amino acids. The others must be supplied in the food. Failure to obtain enough of even 1 of the 10 essential amino acids, those that we cannot make, results in degradation of the body's proteins-muscle and so forth-to obtain the one amino acid that is needed. Unlike fat and starch, the human body does not store excess amino acids for later use-the amino acids must be in the food every day.
The 10 amino acids that we can produce are alanine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine and tyrosine. Tyrosine is produced from phenylalanine, so if the diet is deficient in phenylalanine, tyrosine will be required as well. The essential amino acids are arginine (required for the young, but not for adults), histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. These amino acids are required in the diet. Plants, of course, must be able to make all the amino acids. Humans, on the other hand, do not have all the the enzymes required for the biosynthesis of all of the amino acids.
Why learn these structures and properties?
It is critical that all students of the life sciences know well the structure and chemistry of the amino acids and other building blocks of biological molecules. Otherwise, it is impossible to think or talk sensibly about proteins and enzymes, or the nucleic acids.
DNA contains the instructions to make proteins (proteins are made up of amino acids). DNA is transcribed into RNA and sent out into the cytoplasm. In the process of translation, RNA is made into proteins from ribosomes.
The 20 amino acids vary in structure by the R-group. All amino acids have a carboxyl group, an amino group, an R-group, and a hydrogen which are all bonded to a central carbon. It is the R-groups that make the amino acids react in different ways and alter the structure of the protein.
The biochemical process is what determines the type of amino acid that is synthesized in the cell. Also, the RNA plays a large part in this.
Water
Proteins are made from amino acids, there are different types of proteins in our body ane the order of the amino acids determines the type of amino acid cus it sure helped me :)
Amino acid structure is a central carbon bonded to a hydrogen, a carboxyl group, an amino group and a side chain (this side chain determines the actual amino acid). It is not made of protein, proteins are made of amino acids.
The three parts of an Amino Acid are:The Amino Group (-NH2)The Carboxyl Group (-COOH)and an R Group that differs among the Amino Acids.All of these plus a Hydrogen Atom are chemically bonded to the Alpha Carbon.
Proteins are polymers of amino acid molecules
Translation
Proteins are made from amino acids, there are different types of proteins in our body ane the order of the amino acids determines the type of amino acid cus it sure helped me :)
Genetic's determines what proteins are produced. Don't mix up proteins with amino acids; Proteins are made from amino acids and Amino acids are the monomers (building blocks) for proteins. In the triplet code an DNA strand is read like a book; for example: AT ] CG ] Amino acid Called Anmino acid lettered 'P'. TA ] PKUMIPPQ - All the amino acids join to form a protein (polypeptide).
Amino acid structure is a central carbon bonded to a hydrogen, a carboxyl group, an amino group and a side chain (this side chain determines the actual amino acid). It is not made of protein, proteins are made of amino acids.
two factors influence protein quality- the proteins digestibility and its amino acid composition.
Amino acids ARE monomers- of Proteins: a polymer. Elements C,H,O,N and sometimes s and p make it up..
The monomers of proteins are amino acids.
Amino acids
First off, it should be asked "Are lipids or proteins in an amino acid?". And the answer is proteins, because proteins are monomers ("building blocks") of amino acids.
No, that's proteins
The three parts of an Amino Acid are:The Amino Group (-NH2)The Carboxyl Group (-COOH)and an R Group that differs among the Amino Acids.All of these plus a Hydrogen Atom are chemically bonded to the Alpha Carbon.
Proteins are polymers of amino acid molecules
An amino acid is the monomer, or basic building block, of proteins.