Amino Acids

Dr.B.RENGESH | M.Tech., Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology,
Mahendra Engineering College (Autonomous),
Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu, India
 PROTEINS
v Proteins (Greek proteios, “primary” or “of first importance”) are
biomolecules consisting of polypeptides joined by peptide bonds between
the amino and carboxyl groups of amino acid residues.
v Proteins perform many vital functions:
– Enzymes as biochemical catalysts.
– Many proteins have structural or mechanical functions.
– Proteins are important in cell signaling, immune responses, cell
adhesion, and the cell cycle.
– Proteins are a necessary component in animal diets.
 AMINO ACIDS
v There are more than 300 amino acids that occur in nature and many are yet
to be characterized.
v Only 20 of the amino acids are found in the protein structure and the
genetic code exists for only the 20 amino acids.
v These amino acids are called alpha (α)-amino acids because the amino
group is attached to the first carbon in the chain connected to the carboxyl
carbon.
 AMINO ACIDS
v The amino acids are classified by the polarity of the R group side chains,
and whether they are acidic or basic:
– neutral, nonpolar
– neutral, polar
– basic, polar (contains an additional amino group)
– acidic, polar (contains an additional carboxylate group)
v All of the amino acids are also known by a three-letter and one-letter
abbreviations
 AMINO ACIDS – Name and Abbreviations
Name 3-letter abbreviation 1-letter abbreviation
Alanine Ala A
Arginine Arg R
Asparagine Asn N
Aspartic acid Asp D
Cysteine Cys C
Glutamic acid Glu E
Glutamine Gln Q
Glycine Gly G
Histidine His H
Isoleucine Ile I
 AMINO ACIDS – Name and Abbreviations
Name 3-letter abbreviation 1-letter abbreviation
Leucine Leu L
Lysine Lys K
Methionine Met M
Phenylalanine Phe F
Proline Pro P
Serine Ser S
Threonine Thr T
Tryptophan Trp W
Tyrosine Tyr Y
Valine Val V
AMINO ACIDS – classification – Neutral, Non-polar side chains
AMINO ACIDS – classification – Neutral, Polar side chains
AMINO ACIDS – classification – Basic, Polar side chains
AMINO ACIDS – classification – Acidic, Polar side chains
 AMINO ACIDS – Nutritional Classification
v Essential amino acids – These amino acids cannot be formed (synthesized) in the body
and so, it is essential to be included in the diet.
1. Valine 2. Isoleucine 3. Lysine 4. Leucine
5. Methionine 6. Tryptophan 7. Threonine 8. Phenyl alanine
v Non-essential amino acids – The amino acids that can be synthesized in the body by
regular metabolism in enough amounts. They need not be included in the diet.
1. Glycine 2. Alanine 3. Cysteine 4. Tyrosine
5. Proline 6. Serine 7. Asparagine 8. Glutamine
9. Aspartic acid 10. Glutamic acid
v Semi-essential amino acids – These amino acids are formed in the body but not in
sufficient amount for body requirements especially in children.
1. Arginine 2. Histidine
 AMINO ACIDS – Zwitterions
v Because amino acids contain both an acidic and a basic functional group,
an internal acid-base reaction occurs, forming an ion with both a positive
and a negative charge called a zwitterion
AMINO ACIDS – Zwitterions @ solutions – Structure changes
v Lowering the pH of the solution causes the zwitterion to pick up a proton

v Increasing the pH of the solution causes the zwitterion to lose a proton

 AMINO ACIDS – Zwitterions - Properties
v Since the pH of the solution affects the charge on the amino acid, at some
pH, the amino acid will form a zwitterion. This is called the isoelectric
point.
v Each amino acid (and protein) has a characteristic isoelectric point: those
with neutral R groups are near a pH of 6, those with basic R groups have
higher values, and those with acidic R groups have lower values.
v Because amino acids can react with both H3O+ and OH-, solutions of
amino acids and proteins can act as buffers. (E.g., blood proteins help to
regulate the pH of blood.)
 AMINO ACIDS – Reactions – Oxidation of Cysteine
v Cysteine is the only amino acid that contains a sulfhydryl (thiol, R—SH)
group. Thiols are easily oxidized to form disulfide bonds (R—S—S—R).
This allows cysteine to dimerize to form cystine
 AMINO ACIDS – Reactions – Peptide Formation
v Amides formed from the reaction of an amine and a carboxylic acid
 AMINO ACIDS – Reactions – Peptide Formation
v If 3rd AA join to form a tripeptide
 PEPTIDES - terminologies
v A fourth amino acid would form a tetrapeptide, a fifth would form a
pentapeptide, and so on.
v Short chains are referred to as peptides, chains of up to about 50 amino acids
are polypeptides, and chains of more than 50 amino acids are proteins
v The residue with a free amino group is called the N-terminal residue, and is
written on the left end of the chain.
v The residue with a free carboxylate group is called the C-terminal residue, and
is written on the right end of the chain.
v Peptides are named by starting at the N-terminal end and listing the amino acid
residues from left to right. i.e. usually represented by their three-letter
abbreviations, separated by dashes. Eg. Gly-Ala (Gly = N-terminal, Ala = C-terminal)
 Important Peptides
Vasopressin & Oxytocin

v Nonapetides
v Secreted by Posterior
Pituitary hormone
 Glucagon – Glycogen – Insulin
v Peptide hormone v Peptide hormone
produced by alpha produced by beta cells of
cells of the pancreas. the pancreas.
v Works to raise the v It promotes the
concentration of absorption of
glucose and fatty carbohydrates, especially
acids in the glucose from the blood
bloodstream into liver, fat and skeletal
i.e., in response to muscle cells.
low concentration of v Converted into glycogen
Insulin
Examples of Peptide and Protein Hormones