Amino Acids

Amino acids and molecular interactions

Glycine (Gly, G)

Hydrophobic (non-polar)

R group: hydrogen atom

Alanine (Ala, A)

Hydrophobic (non-polar)

R group: methyl group -CH

Valine (Val, V)

Hydrophobic (non-polar)

R group: isopropyl hydrocarbon

Leucine (Leu, L)

Hydrophobic (non-polar)

R group: isobutyl group

Isoleucine (Ile, I)

Hydrophobic (non-polar)

R group: sec-butyl group

Aspartic acid, Aspartate (Asp, D)

Acidic (negatively charged, polar)

R group: methylene & carboxylic acid

H bond acceptor

Glutamic acid, Glutamate (Glu, E)

Acidic (negatively charged, polar)

R group: methylene x2 & carboxylic acid

H bond acceptor

Asparagine (Asn, N)

Hydrophilic (polar, uncharged)

R group: methlyene & carboxamide group

H bond donor and acceptor (NH₂ donates, O accepts)

Glutamine (Gln, Q)

Hydrophillic (polar, uncharged)

R group: methlyene x2 & carboxamide group

H bond donor and acceptor (NH₂ donates, O accepts)

Proline (Pro, P)

Hydrophobic (non-polar)

R group: pyrrolidine ring

Phenylalanine (Phe, F)

Hydrophobic (non-polar)

R group: benzyl group

Tryptophan (Trp, W)

Hydrophobic (non-polar)

R group: indole group

H bond donor

Lysine (Lys, K)

Basic (positively charged, polar)

R group: butylamine group

H bond donor

Cysteine (Cys, C)

Hydrophobic (mildly polar, acts nonpolar)

R group: sulfhydryl chain

Methionine (Met, M)

Hydrophobic (non-polar)

R group: methylthio group

H bond acceptor

Tyrosine (Tyr, Y)

Hydrophilic (polar, uncharged)

R group: methlyene & hydroxyphenyl group

H bond donor & acceptor

Arginine (Arg, R)

Basic (positively charged, polar)

R group: guanidino group

H bond donor

Histidine (His, H)

Basic (positively charged, polar, can also be neutral)

R group: methylene & imidazole ring

H bond donor and acceptor

Serine (Ser, S)

Hydrophilic (polar, uncharged)

R group: hydroxymethyl group

H bond donor and acceptor

Threonine (Thr, T)

Hydrophilic (polar, uncharged)

R group: hydroxyethyl group

H bond donor and acceptor