TChem Chapter 14_ The Building Blocks of Life

## ThanatoChemistry

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## Chapter 14: The Building Blocks of Life

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## Chapter 14 To-Do’s
- Understand the following key concepts regarding amino acids:
- Characteristics of Amino Acids
- Their structure and "personalities"
- How amino acids are classified
- Definition of "Zwitterion"
- Amphoteric Nature of amino acids
- Utilization as "Buffers"
- Structure comparisons:
- Amino Acid vs. Peptide vs. Protein
- Fibrous vs. Globular Protein
- Locations of these in the human body
- Functions of specific proteins in the body (see Chart 14.2)
- Structural comparisons:
- Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary protein structures
- Description of Hemoglobin and Myoglobin
- Composition and location in the body
- Functions of hemoglobin and myoglobin
- Definition and methods of Denaturation

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## Amino Acids
- Amino acid + amino acid = **Protein**
- Known as the "Building Blocks of Life"
- Composition:
- 1 Amine Group (Basic)
- 1 Carboxyl Group (Acidic)
- Abbreviations with 3 letters:
- Example: Tryptophan = Trp
- **Alpha-Amino Acids**
- Most important category
- Amine and carboxyl groups attached to the same Carbon (Alpha-Carbon)
- The "Magic 20" amino acids include:
- Unique identity from R-Groups
- Classified as:
- NonPolar (Hydrophobic)
- Polar
- Acid/Base

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## Overview of the Twenty Common Amino Acids
- **Amino Acid Chart Key**
- Aliphatic
- Aromatic
- Acidic
- Basic
- Hydroxylic
- Sulfur-containing
- Amidic
- Non-Essential
- Essential
- Chemical Structure, Single Letter, and Three Letter Codes:
- Glycine (G, Gly)
- Alanine (A, Ala)
- Phenylalanine (F, Phe)
- Lysine (K, Lys)
- Isoleucine (I, Ile)
- Leucine (L, Leu)
- Tryptophan (W, Trp)
- Tyrosine (Y, Tyr)
- Aspartic Acid (D, Asp)
- Glutamic Acid (E, Glu)
- Proline (P, Pro)
- Valine (V, Val)
- Arginine (R, Arg)
- Histidine (H, His)
- Serine (S, Ser)
- Threonine (T, Thr)
- Cysteine (C, Cys)
- Methionine (M, Met)
- Asparagine (N, Asn)
- Glutamine (Q, Gln)

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## Zwitterion
- **Zwitterion (Zwitter-ion)**:
- Amino acids possess both an alpha amine functional group (+) and an alpha carboxylic acid functional group (-).
- Capable of existing as both Acid and Base.
- Some amino acids carry a charge, making them Zwitterions:
- Exist as a cation and anion simultaneously
- Highly soluble in water
- Play a role in determining protein structure
- Aid in drug delivery to target tissues

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## Amphoterism
- **Amphoterism (Amphoteric)**:
- Amino acids can function as acids or bases, similar to water (H2O).
- Under different pH conditions:
- Acidic pH (