Biology: Amino Acids and R Groups

How many amino acids are there?

What determines the conformation of a protein?

Amino acids can be categorized into how many general categories based on their R groups?

The charged amino acids include: _____, _____, _____, _____, _____

The polar amino acids include: _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____

The nonpolar amino acids include: _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____

What is the R group of amino acids?

What type of R groups can amino acids have?

Which of the following R groups is nonpolar?

Which of the following R groups is acidic?

Which of the following R groups is basic?

What class of amino acid is threonine expected to be in?

What class of amino acid is glycine in?

Overview of Amino Acids

There are 20 amino acids, each characterized by a unique R group that determines its properties and functions.

Protein Structure and Function

Interactions between R groups influence the conformation (shape) of proteins, critical for their biological function.

Classification of Amino Acids

Amino acids are categorized into three groups based on the nature of their R groups:
- Charged
- Polar
- Nonpolar

Charged Amino Acids

Key charged amino acids include:
- Aspartic acid
- Glutamic acid
- Lysine
- Arginine
- Histidine

Polar Amino Acids

Important polar amino acids include:
- Threonine
- Cysteine
- Tyrosine
- Asparagine
- Glutamine
- Serine

Nonpolar Amino Acids

Examples of nonpolar amino acids are:
- Glycine
- Alanine
- Valine
- Leucine
- Isoleucine
- Methionine
- Phenylalanine
- Tryptophan
- Proline

R Group Characteristics

Each amino acid has a distinct R group, influencing its classification as acidic, basic, or neutral.

Identification of Amino Acid Properties

Valine is classified as a nonpolar R group.
Aspartic acid and glutamic acid are examples of acidic R groups.
Lysine is an example of a basic R group.

Specific Amino Acid Classifications

Threonine contains an alcohol group, classifying it as a polar amino acid.
Glycine, with a simple hydrogen R group, is categorized as nonpolar.

This quiz covers the essential concepts related to amino acids and their R groups, the key properties that influence protein interactions, and categorization based on R group characteristics. Test your understanding of how these factors contribute to protein conformation.