Amino Acids and Their R Groups

These flashcards cover the classifications of amino acids based on their R groups, including their properties, mnemonics for memorization, and examples of each type.

Nonpolar Amino Acids

Amino acids whose R groups contain only carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) and share electrons evenly.

Polar Amino Acids

Amino acids whose R groups contain elements like oxygen (O) or nitrogen (N) that pull electrons unevenly.

Aromatic Amino Acids

Amino acids that have a benzene ring present in their R groups.

Acidic Amino Acids

Amino acids with an R group containing an extra carboxyl group (–COO⁻), which gives a negative charge.

Basic Amino Acids

Amino acids with an R group containing an extra nitrogen (–NH₃⁺), which accepts protons and carries a positive charge.

GAVLIMP

A mnemonic for remembering nonpolar amino acids: Glycine (Gly), Alanine (Ala), Valine (Val), Leucine (Leu), Isoleucine (Ile), Methionine (Met), Proline (Pro).

STNQC

A mnemonic for remembering polar amino acids: Serine (Ser), Threonine (Thr), Asparagine (Asn), Cysteine (Cys), Glutamine (Gln).

FYW

A mnemonic for remembering aromatic amino acids: Phenylalanine (Phe), Tyrosine (Tyr), Tryptophan (Trp).

Aspartic Acid

An acidic amino acid represented as Asp (D).

Glutamic Acid

An acidic amino acid represented as Glu (E).

Lysine

A basic amino acid represented as Lys (K).

Histidine

A basic amino acid represented as His (H).

Arginine

A basic amino acid represented as Arg (R).