BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES: Amino Acids

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Amino acids: monomers of all proteins, and all amino acids have the same basic structure.

Peptide bond: a bond formed when two amino acids are joined by a condensation reaction.

Proteins

Proteins are large polymers made of long chains of amino acids. The properties of proteins give them a variety of functions:

- they form structural components in animals e.g. muscles are made of proteins.

- their tendency to adopt specfic shapes makes proteins important as eznymes, antibodies and some hormones.

- membranes have protein constituent that act as carriers and pores for active transport across the membrane and faciliated diffusion.

Both plants and animals need amino acids to make proteins. Animals can make some amino acids, but must ingest the others. Plants can make all the amino acids they need, but only if they can access fixed nitrogen.

Structure of Amino Acids

Each amino…

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