BIO 333 Polar and Non Polar Side Chains

Aspartate/Aspartic Acid (Asp, D)

Polar. Contains a carboxyl group (-COO⁻, acidic).

Glutamate/Glutamic Acid (Glu, E)

Polar. Contains a carboxyl group (-COO⁻, acidic).

Arginine (Arg, R)

Polar. Contains a guanidinium group (basic).

Lysine (Lys, K)

Polar. Contains an amino group (basic).

Histidine (His, H)

Polar. Contains an imidazole group (basic).

Asparagine (Asn, N)

Polar. Contains an amide group (-CONH2)

Glutamine (Gln, Q)

Polar. Contains an amide group (-CONH2).

Serine (Ser, S)

Polar. Contains a hydroxyl group (-OH).

Threonine (Thr, T)

Polar. Contains a hydroxyl group (-OH).

Tyrosine (Tyr, Y)

Polar. Contains a hydroxyl group (-OH) on a benzene ring.

Cysteine (Cys, C)

Nonpolar. Contains a thiol group (-SH). (in some materials considered polar)

Alanine (Ala, A)

Nonpolar. Contains a methyl group (-CH3).

Glycine (Gly, G)

Nonpolar. Smallest, with a hydrogen atom as its side chain.

Valine (Val, V)

Nonpolar. Contains an isopropyl group.

Leucine (Leu, L)

Nonpolar. Contains an isobutyl group.

Isoleucine (Ile, I)

Nonpolar. Contains a sec-butyl group.

Proline (Pro, P)

Nonpolar. Contains a cyclic secondary amine.

Phenylalanine (Phe, F)

Nonpolar. Contains a benzyl group.

Methionine (Met, M)

Nonpolar. Contains a thioether group

Tryptophan (Trp, W)

Nonpolar. Contains an indole group.