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Questions and Answers
What is the reason why these compounds are sometimes called alpha amino acids?
What is the reason why these compounds are sometimes called alpha amino acids?
- because the amine functional group is located on the first carbon (correct)
- because the carboxylic acid group is located on the first carbon
- because they are the simplest form of amino acids
- because the side chain is attached to the first carbon
What determines the identity of an amino acid?
What determines the identity of an amino acid?
- the type of functional group in the side chain
- the one-letter abbreviation of the amino acid
- the side chain itself (correct)
- the number of carbon atoms in the side chain
What is the characteristic of the most polar side chains?
What is the characteristic of the most polar side chains?
- they are always alcohols or amides
- they are non-hydrogen-bonding functional groups
- they are typically hydrocarbon groups
- they are largely in their ionized form at physiological pH (correct)
What is the advantage of using one-letter abbreviations over three-letter abbreviations?
What is the advantage of using one-letter abbreviations over three-letter abbreviations?
What is a characteristic of hydrogen bonds?
What is a characteristic of hydrogen bonds?
How are the amino acids grouped in Figure 12.44?
How are the amino acids grouped in Figure 12.44?
What is the characteristic of enantiomers?
What is the characteristic of enantiomers?
What type of species is a zwitterion?
What type of species is a zwitterion?
What is the result of the intramolecular acid-base reaction between the amino group and the carboxyl group of an amino acid?
What is the result of the intramolecular acid-base reaction between the amino group and the carboxyl group of an amino acid?
What is the property of amino acids that enables proteins to differentiate between two enantiomeric isomers?
What is the property of amino acids that enables proteins to differentiate between two enantiomeric isomers?
What is the characteristic of naturally occurring amino acids?
What is the characteristic of naturally occurring amino acids?
What type of reaction occurs between the amino group and the carboxyl group of an amino acid?
What type of reaction occurs between the amino group and the carboxyl group of an amino acid?
What is the main difference in properties between enantiomers?
What is the main difference in properties between enantiomers?
Why can our bodies only use one of the handed isomers of a chiral molecule?
Why can our bodies only use one of the handed isomers of a chiral molecule?
What is a stereocenter in a molecule?
What is a stereocenter in a molecule?
What is the effect of introducing the wrong-handed isomer of a chiral molecule into the body?
What is the effect of introducing the wrong-handed isomer of a chiral molecule into the body?
Which of the following belongs to the left-handed family?
Which of the following belongs to the left-handed family?
What happens when the wrong-handed isomer of a chiral molecule is introduced into the body?
What happens when the wrong-handed isomer of a chiral molecule is introduced into the body?
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Study Notes
Amino Acids
- Amino acids are also called alpha amino acids because the amine functional group is located on the first carbon out from the main functional group (the carboxylic acid).
- Each amino acid has a unique side chain that gives the amino acid its characteristic physical and chemical properties.
Side Chains
- The identity of an amino acid is determined by the side chain.
- Amino acid side chains can be grouped according to the main functional group in the side chain.
- Side chains can be polar or non-polar, with hydrocarbon groups being the least polar and acidic and basic side chains being the most polar.
Stereochemistry of Amino Acids
- Naturally occurring amino acids belong to the L-family, meaning the amino group is on the left when drawn as a Fischer projection.
- All amino acids (except glycine) are chiral, making proteins also chiral.
- The inherent handedness of proteins enables them to differentiate between two enantiomeric isomers.
Acid–Base Properties of Amino Acids
- Amino acids have both an acidic functional group and a basic functional group.
- The basic amino group takes a proton from the acidic carboxyl group, resulting in the formation of a zwitterion.
- A zwitterion is a species that is electrically neutral but has separated positive and negative ionic charges.
Optical Activity and Chirality
- Enantiomers have identical chemical and physical properties, except for how they interact with other chiral molecules and plane-polarized light.
- Chiral molecules interact differently with other chiral molecules, and the wrong-handed isomer of a chiral molecule can have significant effects.
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