CHEM 130A: amino acids

How many common amino acids are there?

20

Where do other amino acids exist?

post-translational pathways or biosynthetic pathways

At which carbon are amino acids chiral?

alpha-carbon

What are the two labels of stereochemistry for amino acids?

left-handed stereochemistry (L), and is most common in living organisms.

right-handed stereochemistry (D)

Why are R groups and functional groups important in amino acids?

R groups determine the type of functional group. Functional groups determine the type of interaction.

Draw the amino acid backbone.

N — C — C — O

What are the seven non-polar common amino acids?

alanine (Ala), glycine (Gly), isoleucine (Ile), leucine (Leu), methionine (Met), proline (Pro), and valine (Val)

What are the three aromatic common amino acids?

phenylalanine (Phe), tryptophan (Trp), and tyrosine (Tyr)

What are the five polar, uncharged common amino acids?

cystine (Cys), asparagine (Asn), glutamine (Gln), serine (Ser), and threonine (Thr)

What are the five polar, charged common amino acids? Include the type of charge.

aspartic acid (Asp) (-), glutamic acid (Glu) (-), histidine (His) (+), lysine (Lys) (+), and arginine (Arg) (+)

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

glutamic acid, Glu, E

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

alanine, Ala, A

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

aspartic acid, Asp, D

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

phenylalanine, Phe, F

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

cysteine, Cys, C

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

tyrosine, Tyr, Y

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

tryptophan, Trp, W

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

serine, Ser, S

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

asparagine, Asn, N

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

methionine, Met, M

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

leucine, Leu, L

longer amino acid of Val

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

lysine, Lys, K

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

isoleucine, Ile, I

isomer amino acid of Leu

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

histidine, His, H

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

glycine, Gly, G

smallest amino acid → has conformational flexibility

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

arginine, Arg, R

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

valine, Val, V

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

glutamine, Gln, Q

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

threonine, Thr, T

Name, abbreviation, letter, and if applicable, special characteristic

proline, Pro, P

most conformationally restricted