Download Help Memorizing Amino Acids

Help Memorizing Amino Acids
General rule, side chains have a
maximum of four C atoms, with other
structures attached onto up to 4 carbon
atoms.
Protein Structure & Function
H
H
H
O
H
H
O
N
C
C
N
C
C
H
OH
+
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
CH3
CH2OH
– H2O
H
H
H
O
H
H
O
H
H
O
N
C
C
N
C
C
N
C
C
H
CH3
CH2OH
OH
a tripeptide
OH
Protein Structure & Function
H
H
H
O
H
H
O
H
H
O
N
C
C
N
C
C
N
C
C
R1
H
R2
OH
R3
H
H
O
H
H
O H
H
O
H
H
O
H
H
O
H
H
O
H
H
O
N
C
C
N
C
C
C
C
N
C
C
N
C
C
N
C
C
N
C
C
R1
N
R2
R3
polypeptide
Linear sequence 
Rx
Rx
Rx
protein
3D shape 
Function
Rx
Four Levels of Protein Structure
Primary (1°) structure:
Linear sequence of amino acids
Secondary (2°) structure:
Spatial arrangement of AAs nearby in the sequence
Tertiary (3°) structure:
Spatial arrangement of AAs far apart in the sequence
Quaternary (4°) structure:
Spatial arrangement of multiple polypeptide chains
(referred to as “subunits”)
Type
Function
Enzymes
Catalysts
Amylase – CH digestion
Hormones
Regulation
Insulin – glucose  E
Storage
Bioreserve
Myoglobin – O2 in muscles
Transport
Transport
substances
Serum albumin –
Carries fatty acids
Structural
Provide shape
Collagen –
tendons, cartilage
Protective
Body’s defense
Immunoglobulin – destroys
Invaders, e.g. bacteria
Contractile
Work/motion
Myosin/actin –
muscle movement
Example
Amino Acids – The 20
Gly. and Ala. On your own, just memorize
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
H
OH
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
Glycine, G
CH3
OH
Alanine, A
Nonpolar
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
CHCH3
CH3
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
CH2CH2CH3
Valine, V
Makes a letter V
Turned sideways
CH3
Leucine, L
Make a reflected letter
L
Nonpolar
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
CH2CHCH3
CH3
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
CH2CH2SCH3
Isoleucine, I
Is the isomer of
Leucine, different
attachment
CH3
Eliminate
this CH3 -
H
Methionine, M
Thio is sulfur so methyl
thionine
H
H
O
N
H2C
C
C
CH2
CH2
OH
OH
Proline, P
Looks like letter P on its side,
Use your imagination
Nonpolar
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
CH2
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
CH2
N
H
Phenylalanine, F phenylIs used when benzene is attached to Ala.
(already used “P” for Proline)
Tryptophan, W
Can make a W outline out of cyclical rings
(Three “T”s)
Polar
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
CH2OH
CH2SH
Serine, S
An alcohol
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
H
H
Cysteine, C
A thio- or sulfur alcohol
H
O
N
C
OH
CHCH3
OH
Threonine, T
Letter T on side
C
OH
CH2
Tire ,
Its
round?
The
road!
OH!!
Tyrosine, Y
OH
(The third “T”)
Polar
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
H
Asparagine, N CH2CNH2
2 C’s A before G
O
In alphabet
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
CH CH CNH2
Glutamine, Q 2 2
3 C’s G after A
O
In alphabet so
more C’s
Acidic
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
CH2COH
“Aspartate” D
O
all have 3 C ‘s
note parallel # C’s
from above
OH
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
CH2CH2COH
“Glutamate”, E
O
OH
Basic have 4 C’s or a cyclic str., all have N atom
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2
OH
CH2CH2CH2NHCNH2
+
NH2
Arginine, R
Lysine, K
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
CH2
H
N
N
Histidine, H
Just the “R-Groups”
Nonpolar
G
A
H
H2C
CH3
CH3
M
CH2
L
CHCH2CH3
CH3
P
I
V
CHCH3
CH2CH2SCH3
CH2CHCH3
CH3
F
CH2
W
CH2
CH2
Primarily Alkanes
and Aromatics
N
H
Polar
S
C
T
CH2OH
CH2SH
CHCH3
Y
CH2
OH
Alcohols
and Amides
N
CH2CNH2
O
OH
Q
CH2CH2CNH2
O
Acidic
D
E
CH2COH
O
CH2CH2COH
Carboxylic Acids
O
Basic
K
CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2
R
CH2CH2CH2NHCNH2
+
NH2
Amines
H
CH2
H
N
N
“Stick Figures”
H
H
CH3
CH3
CHCH3
CHCH2CH3
CH3
CH3
CH2CHCH3
CH3
H2C
CH2
CH2CH2SCH3
CH2
CH2
CH2
N
H
S
N
H
CH2OH
CH2SH
CH2CHCH3
CH2
OH
OH
OH
SH
OH
OH
CH2CNH2
CH2CH2CNH2
O
O
O
CH2CH2COH
O
NH2
NH2
O
CH2COH
O
OH
OH
O
O
NH
CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2
CH2CH2CH2NHCNH2
CH2
H
N
N
+ NH2
NH2
N
NH2
H
N
H
N
1-L
abbrev.
AA Name
3-L
abbrev.
1-L
abbrev.
AA Name
3-L
abbrev.
G
Glycine
Gly
S
Serine
Ser
A
Alanine
Ala
C
Cysteine
Cys
V
Valine
Val
T
Threonine
Thr
I
Isoleucine
Ile
Y
Tyrosine
Tyr
L
Leucine
Leu
N
Asparagine
Asn
P
Proline
Pro
Q
Glutamine
Gln
M
Methionine
Met
D
Aspartate
Asp
F
Phenylalanine
Phe
E
Glutamate
Glu
W
Tryptophan
Trp
K
Lysine
Lys
R
Arginine
Arg
H
Histidine
His
nonpolar
GAVIL-PM (fake cold medicine)
is For Winners!
acid
Need help? Just ask
Chief DElaware
polar
You’ll find it
South of the CiTY
in the North Quadrant
base
or KRazy Horse
G
H
A
CH3
V
I
L
C
T
Y
SH
OH
P
F
S
W
OH
OH
M
N
S
N
H
D
O
K
NH2
Q
NH2
O
O
NH2
OH
H
NH
R
E
OH
O
H
N
H
NH2
N
N
Practice Naming
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
Leucine, L
H
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
Glutamate, E
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
H
N
Histidine, H
Tyrosine, Y
OH
N
OH
Practice Naming
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
Arginine, R
H
Asparagine, N
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
Methionine, M
H
H
O
N
C
C
H
H
H
O
N
C
C
OH
N
Tryptophan, W
H
OH