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Questions and Answers
What is the function of proteins in the body?
What is the function of proteins in the body?
What is the term for the bond formed when two amino acids join together?
What is the term for the bond formed when two amino acids join together?
What is the term for a chain of less than 50 amino acids?
What is the term for a chain of less than 50 amino acids?
What is the general term for the building blocks of proteins?
What is the general term for the building blocks of proteins?
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What is the term for a molecule composed of two amino acids?
What is the term for a molecule composed of two amino acids?
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What is the simplest amino acid, with a hydrogen atom as its side chain?
What is the simplest amino acid, with a hydrogen atom as its side chain?
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Study Notes
- Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and proteins are very large molecules that perform various important functions in the body.
- Proteins are composed of amino acids, and they have multiple roles, including catalyzing reactions, helping bind cells into tissues, acting as antibodies to protect against pathogens, transporting materials, carrying chemical messages (hormones), and controlling gene activity.
- The structure of an amino acid consists of a central carbon atom (alpha carbon), an amino group (containing nitrogen and hydrogen), a carboxyl group (containing carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen), and a side chain, which varies among the 20 common amino acids.
- There are 20 common amino acids, each with a unique side chain, with the simplest being glycine, which has a hydrogen atom as its side chain.
- Amino acids join together through a condensation reaction, where two amino acids release a water molecule (H2O) and form a peptide bond, resulting in a dipeptide (a molecule composed of two amino acids).
- When multiple amino acids join together, they form a polymer; if the chain consists of less than 50 amino acids, it's called an oligopeptide, and if it has more than 50, it's a polypeptide, which is essentially a protein.
- Proteins can be composed of up to thousands of amino acids joined together in a single chain.
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Description
Learn about the structure and functions of amino acids and proteins, including their composition, types, and roles in the body. Understand how amino acids join together to form peptides and proteins. Discover the importance of amino acids in biological processes.
