Amino Acids, Amino Acids MCAT

Glycine

Aliphatic (non-polar)

Most simple, optically inactive

Hydrogen for R

Alanine

Aliphatic (non-polar)

Methyl for R, a simple functional group to start just like "A" starts alphabet

Valine

Aliphatic (non-polar)

Simple, R shaped like a V

Leucine

Aliphatic (non-polar)

Valine extended with one methyle

Isoleucine

Aliphatic (non-polar)

"Lopsided Valine"

Proline

Aliphatic (non-polar)

3 Carbon chain to N

Special Structure found in turns

Methionine

Sulfur Containing

Starts every protein

3 Carbons with a thioether

methyl blocked sulfhydryl

Cysteine

Sulfur Containing

Sulfhydryl alanine

reactive, can form disulfides

Phenylalanine

Aromatic

Alanine with phenyl group

y reminds of aromatics

Tyrosine

Aromatic

hydroxylated

phenylalanine, one of 3 "T"s

that has "Y" in its name so it is an aromatic

Tryptophan

Aromatic

one of 3 "T"s with a "Y" so it is aromatic, will

"tryp" you up because it is hard to remember,

has a 3 carbon start to N (or indole ring on methylene)

Serine

Aliphatic hydroxyl

"hydroxyl alanine"

Threonine

Aliphatic, "threo" parts are methyl, hydroxyl, and hydrogen on a single C

Aspartate

Acidic

"carboxyl alanine"

"ate" -> acidic

Glutamate

Aspartate plus one methylene, side chain length is signified by alphabetical ordering of the first letter in the names (G is after A)

Arginine

Basic

3 carbon chain linked to a C full of only N's (no H's & C has 4 bonds) through an N

Lysine

Basic

3 carbon chain plus one methylene to amino, it lies ("Lys") about the 3 carbon trend

Histidine

Basic

3 carbons to N and loop back through C 'n' N

Asparagine

Amide derivatives of acids - loose OH for NH2 to loose charge

amide derivative of aspartate

Glutamine

Amide derivatives of acids - loose OH for NH2 to loose charge

amide derivative of glutamate