Characteristics and Properties of Amino Acids

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Introduction:

Each amino acid has at least one amine and one acid functional group as the name implies. The different properties result from variations in the structures of different R groups. The R group is often referred to as the amino acid side chain. Amino acids have special common names, however, a three letter abbreviation for the name is used most of the time. A second abbreviation , single letter, is used in long protein structures.Consult the table on the left for structure, names, and abbreviations of 20 amino acids.

There are basically four different classes of amino acids determined by different side chains:

(1) non-polar and neutral,

(2) polar and neutral,

(3) acidic and polar,

(4) basic and polar.

Principles of Polarity:

The greater the electronegativity difference between atoms in a bond, the more polar the bond. Partial negative charges are found on the most electronegative atoms, the others are partially positive

Non-Polar Side Chains:

Side chains which have pure hydrocarbon alkyl groups (alkane branches) or aromatic (benzene rings) are non-polar. Examples include valine, alanine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine.

The number of alkyl groups also influences the polarity. The more alkyl groups present, the more non-polar the amino acid will be. This effect makes valine more non-polar than alanine; leucine is more non-polar than valine.

Acid - Base Properties of Amino Acids:

Acidic Side Chains:

If the side chain contains an acid functional group, the whole amino acid produces an acidic solution. Normally, an amino acid produces a nearly neutral solution since the acid group and the basic amine group on the root amino acid neutralize each other in the zwitterion. If the amino acid structure contains two acid groups and one amine group, there is a net acid producing effect. The two acidic amino acids are aspartic and glutamic.

Basic Side Chains:

If the side chain contains an amine functional group, the amino acid produces a basic solution because the extra amine group is not neutralized by the acid group. Amino acids which have basic side chains include: lysine, arginine, and histidine.

Amino acids with an amide on the side chain do not produce basic solutions i.e. asparagine and glutamine.

Neutral Side Chains:

Since an amino acid has both an amine and acid group which have been neutralized in the zwitterion, the amino acid is neutral unless there is an extra acid or base on the side chain. If neither is present then then the whole amino acid is neutral.

Amino acids with an amide on the side chain do not produce basic solutions i.e. asparagine and glutamine. You need to look at the functional groups carefully because an amide starts out looking like an amine, but has the carbon double bond oxygen which changes the property. Amides are not basic.

Even though tryptophan has an amine group as part of a five member ring, the electron withdrawing effects of the two ring systems do not allow nitrogen to act as a base by attracting hydrogen ions.

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