Amino Acids, Amino Acids MCAT

Glycine (Gly, G)

Aliphatic (non-polar)

Most simple, optically inactive

Hydrogen for R

Alanine (Ala, A)

Aliphatic (non-polar)

Methyl for R, a simple functional group to start just like "A" starts alphabet

Valine (Val, V)

Aliphatic (non-polar)

Simple, R shaped like a V

Leucine (Leu, L)

Aliphatic (non-polar)

Valine extended with one methyle

Isoleucine (Ile, I)

Aliphatic (non-polar)

"Lopsided Valine"

Proline (Pro, P)

Aliphatic (non-polar)

3 Carbon chain to N

Special Structure found in turns

Methionine (Met, M)

Sulfur Containing

Starts every protien

3 Carbons with a thioether

methyl blocked sulfhydryl

Cysteine (Cys, C)

Sulfur Containing

Sulfhydryl alanine

reactive, can form disulfides

Phenylalanine (Phe, F)

Aromatic

Alanine with phenyl group

y reminds of aromatics

Tyrosine (Tyr, Y)

Aromatic

hydroxylated

phenylalanine, one of 3 "T"s

that has "Y" in its name so it is an aromatic

Tryptophan (Trp, W)

Aromatic

one of 3 "T"s with a "Y" so it is aromatic, will

"tryp" you up because it is hard to remember,

has a 3 carbon start to N (or indole ring on methylene)

Serine (Ser, S)

Aliphatic hydroxyl

"hydroxyl alanine"

Threonine (Thr, T)

Aliphatic, "threo" parts are methyl, hydroxyl, and hydrogen on a single C

Aspartate (Asp, D)

Acidic

"carboxyl alanine"

"ate" -> acidic

Glutamate (Glu, E)

Aspartate plus one methylene, side chain length is signified by alphabetical ordering of the first letter in the names (G is after A)

Arginine (Arg, R)

Basic

3 carbon chain linked to a C full of only N's (no H's & C has 4 bonds) through an N

Lysine (Lys, K)

Basic

3 carbon chain plus one methylene to amino, it lies ("Lys") about the 3 carbon trend

Histidine (His, H)

Basic

3 carbons to N and loop back through C 'n' N

Asparagine (Asn, N)

Amide derivatives of acids - lose OH for NH2 to lose charge

amide derivative of aspartate

Glutamine (Gln, Q)

Amide derivatives of acids - loose OH for NH2 to loose charge

amide derivative of glutamate