Amino Acids

Glycine

• Gly, G

• non polar

• aliphatic R group

• no asymmetric center

Alanine

• Ala, A

• nonpolar

• aliphatic R group

Valine

• Val, V

• nonpolar

• aliphatic and hydrophobic R group

Methionine

• Met, M

• nonpolar

• aliphatic R group

Leucine

• Leu, L

• nonpolar

• aliphatic and hydrophobic R group

Isoleucine

• Ile, I

• nonpolar

• aliphatic and hydrophobic R group

Proline

• Pro, P

• side chain directly links to main chain which significantly restricts rotation of proteins that hold Pro in their primary structures

Phenylalanine

• Phe, F

• nonpolar

• aromatic and heterocyclic R group

Cysteine

• Cys, C

• polar

• uncharged R group

Serine

• Ser, S

• (slightly) polar

• aliphatic hydroxyl R group

Threonine

• Thr, T

• (slightly) polar

• aliphatic hydroxy R group

Tyrosine

• Tyr, Y

• polar

• aromatic and heterocyclic R group

Asparagine

• Asn, N

• polar

• uncharged R group

Tryptophan

• Trp, W

• nonpolar

• aromatic, heterocyclic, & hydrophobic R group

  • the side chain is called an indole ring

Glutamine

• Gln, Q

• polar

• uncharged R group

Lysine

• Lys, K

• positively charged R group

• highly flexible

Arginine

• Arg, R

• positively charged R group

• highly flexible

Histidine

• His, H

• positively charged R group

• highly flexible

Aspartic acid

• Asp, D

• negatively charged R group

Glutamatic Acid

• Glu, E

• negatively charged R group

Essential amino acids

Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Isoleucine, Methionine, Histidine, Leucine, Lysine - are not synthesized by mammals and are therefore dietarily essential / indispensable nutrients.

Arginine is semi-essential.

Mnemonic: PVT TIM H(A)LL