Amino acid classification

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  • Created by: JS007
  • Created on: 13-12-17 12:45

Non-Polar aliphatic R-groups

  • Proline
  • Methionine 

Characterists:

Proline is considered an imino acid, as it is cyclical 

Methionine contains sulfur and is always the first amino acid coded for on any polypeptide chain

Branched chain amino acids can only be metabolised in the muscles; an inability to do this is the cause of maple syrup urine disease

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Polar, uncharged R-Groups

  • Cysteine
  • Serine
  • Threonine

Characterists:

Cysteine contains a reactive sulfur group and so can form disulfide bridges

Serine and threonine both contain a hydroxyl group (-OH)

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Aromatic R-Groups

  • Phenylalaine
  • Trypophan
  • Tyrosine

Characteristics:

The only amino acids that can absorb UV light, due to benzene making a for a bulky R-group

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Negatively-charged R-Groups

  • Lysine
  • Arginine
  • Histidine

Charcteristics

Are basic

Histidine is difficult to classify, as it only has a partial positive charge at physiological pH (7.4); it plays a buffering role 

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Positively charged R-Groups

  • Asparagine
  • Glutamate 

Characteristics:

Are acidic

Acidic COO- side chain enables them to bind to calcium ions during the blood coagulation pathway

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