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An amino acid is the basic unit of proteins (including peptides and enzymes). The amino acid molecule is formed by an amino group and a carboxylic group linked to a carbon atom (the alpha carbon), and a side chain group that gives their identity. There are 20 natural or "standard" amino acid molecules. Generally, are grouped according to the polarity of their side chains or "R" groups. According to this classification scheme, there are three major types of amino acids:

  1. those with nonpolar groups. Glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, proline, phenylalanine and tryptophan, form this type of amino acids.
  2. those with uncharged polar side chains or R groups. This type is formed by the amino acids serine, threonine, asparagine, glutamine, tyrosine, and cysteine.
  3. those with polar side chains. This type is formed by amino acids lysine, arginine, histidine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid.
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7y ago

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