USABO - Amino Acids Properties

Glycine / Gly / G

Non-polar

Smallest amino acid

Alanine / Ala / A

Non-polar

Valine / Val / V

Non-polar

Cysteine / Cys / C

Non-polar

Sulfhydryl group (important for disulfide bridges)

Proline / Pro / P

Non-polar

Side chain forms a ring with amino group

Destabilizes secondary structure

Leucine / Leu / L

Non-polar

Isomer of isoleucine

Isoleucine / Ile / I

Non-polar

Isomer of leucine

Most hydrophobic amino acid

Methionine / Met / M

Non-polar

Has sulfur

Starting amino acid in protein synthesis

Tryptophan / Trp / W

Non-polar

Has benzene ring

Phenylalanine / Phe / F

Non-polar

Has benzene ring

Serine / Ser / S

Polar

Has hydroxyl group

Threonine / Thr / T

Polar

Has hydroxyl group

Tyrosine / Tyr / Y

Polar

Has hydroxyl group

Looks non-polar

Asparagine / Asn / N

Polar

Has aldehyde and amino groups

Glutamine / Gln / Q

Polar

Has aldehyde and amino groups

Lysine / Lys / K

Positive charge / basic

Has amino group

Arginine / Arg / R

Positive charge / basic

Has amino group

Histidine / His / H

Positive charge / basic

Has amino group

Aspartate / Asp / D

Negative charge / acidic

Has carboxyl group

Glutamate / Glu / E

Negative charge / acidic

Has carboxyl group