Amino Acid Chemistry Quiz

Amino Acids

• The R group (side chain) is a unique group of atoms that distinguishes each amino acid from another.

Amino Acid Disorders

• A deficiency of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase leads to Phenylketonuria (PKU).
• Inherited enzyme defects in aminoacidopathies result in the accumulation of toxic compounds, which can cause intellectual disability, seizures, and other severe health problems.
• In PKU, the body is unable to break down the amino acid phenylalanine, leading to its accumulation and subsequent damage to brain tissue.

Genetic Inheritance of PKU

• PKU is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning that a child needs to inherit two copies of the defective gene (one from each parent) to develop the condition.

Amino Acid Structure

• The N-terminal end of amino acids is the end that contains a free amino group (-NH2), which plays a crucial role in protein synthesis.