What distinguishes one amino acid from another?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the factors that differentiate one amino acid from another, which generally involves their specific side chains (R groups) and properties that affect their function and classification in biological systems.
Answer
R-group, or side chain.
The final answer is the R-group, or side chain.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is the R-group, or side chain.
More Information
The R-group, or side chain, varies among the 20 standard amino acids and determines the unique chemical nature and reactivity of each amino acid.
Tips
Common mistakes include confusing the R-group with other structural components such as the amino group or the carboxyl group, which are consistent across all amino acids.
Sources
- What distinguishes one alpha amino acid from another? - Vaia - vaia.com
- Biochemistry, Essential Amino Acids - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 18.3: Amino Acids - Chemistry LibreTexts - chem.libretexts.org
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