Help Memorizing Amino Acids

General rule, side chains have a maximum of four C atoms, with other

structures attached onto up to 4 carbon atoms.

Protein Structure & Function

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2OH

+

– H2O

C C

O

N

H H

H

H

C C OH

O

N

H H

CH3

C C

O

N

H H

H

H

C C

O

N

H H

CH3

C C OH

O

N

H H

CH2OH a tripeptide

Protein Structure & Function

C C

O

N

H H

H

R1

C C

O

N

H H

R2

C C OH

O

N

H H

R3

C C

O

N

H H

H

R1

C C

O

N

H H

R2

C C

O

N

H H

R3

C C

O

N

H H

H

R1

C C

O

N

H H

R2

C C

O

N

H H

H

R1

C C

O

N

H H

H

R1

C C

O

N

H H

R2

C C

O

N

H H

R3

C C

O

N

H H

Rx

C C

O

N

H H

Rx

C C

O

N

H H

Rx

C C

O

N

H H

Rx

C C

O

N

H H

Rx

C C

O

N

H H

Rx

C C

O

N

H H

Rx

C C

O

N

H H

Rx

polypeptide protein

Linear sequence 3D shape Function

Four Levels of Protein StructurePrimary (1°) structure:

Linear sequence of amino acids

Secondary (2°) structure:

Spatial arrangement of AAs nearby in the sequence

Tertiary (3°) structure:

Spatial arrangement of AAs far apart in the sequence

Quaternary (4°) structure:

Spatial arrangement of multiple polypeptide chains(referred to as “subunits”)

Type Function Example

Enzymes Catalysts Amylase – CH digestion

Hormones Regulation Insulin – glucose E

Storage Bioreserve Myoglobin – O2 in muscles

Transport Transport substances

Serum albumin – Carries fatty acids

Structural Provide shape Collagen – tendons, cartilage

Protective Body’s defense Immunoglobulin – destroys Invaders, e.g. bacteria

Contractile Work/motion Myosin/actin – muscle movement

Amino Acids – The 20Gly. and Ala. On your own, just memorize

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

H

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH3

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CHCH3

CH3

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2CH2CH3

CH3

NonpolarNonpolar

Glycine, G Alanine, A

Valine, VMakes a letter VTurned sideways Leucine, L

Make a reflected letterL

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2CHCH3

CH3

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2CH2SCH3

C C OH

O

N

H H

HH2C CH2

CH2

NonpolarNonpolar

Isoleucine, IIs the isomer ofLeucine, different attachment

Methionine, M Thio is sulfur so methyl thionine

Proline, PLooks like letter P on its side,Use your imagination

CH3

Eliminate this CH3 -

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2

N

H

NonpolarNonpolar

Phenylalanine, F phenyl-Is used when benzene is attached to Ala.

Tryptophan, WCan make a W outline out of cyclical rings

(already used “P” for Proline) (Three “T”s)

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2OH

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2SH

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CHCH3

OH

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2

OH

PolarPolar

Serine, SAn alcohol

Cysteine, CA thio- or sulfur alcohol

Threonine, TLetter T on side

Tyrosine, Y

(The third “T”)

Tire ,Its

round?

The road!OH!!

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2CNH2

O

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2CH2CNH2

O

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2COH

O

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2CH2COH

O

PolarPolar

AcidicAcidicall have 3 C ‘sall have 3 C ‘snote parallel # C’snote parallel # C’sfrom abovefrom above

Asparagine, N2 C’s A before G In alphabet

Glutamine, Q3 C’s G after AIn alphabet so more C’s

“Aspartate” D “Glutamate”, E

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

CH2CH2CH2NHCNH2

NH2

CH2

N

H

N

BasicBasic have 4 C’s or a cyclic str., all have N atom have 4 C’s or a cyclic str., all have N atom

Lysine, K

Arginine, R

Histidine, H

+

Just the “R-Groups”

H CH3 CHCH3

CH3

CHCH2CH3

CH3

CH2CHCH3

CH3

CH2CH2SCH3H2C CH2

CH2

CH2CH2

N

H

NonpolarNonpolarG A V I L

P M F W

Primarily Alkanesand Aromatics

CH2OH CH2SH CHCH3

OH

CH2

OH

CH2CNH2

O

CH2CH2CNH2

O

PolarPolarS C T Y

N Q

Alcohols

and Amides

CH2COH

O

CH2CH2COH

O

CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2 CH2CH2CH2NHCNH2

NH2

CH2

N

H

N

AcidicAcidic

BasicBasic

D E

K R H

Carboxylic Acids

Amines

+

“Stick Figures”

H CH3 CHCH3

CH3

CHCH2CH3

CH3

CH2CHCH3

CH3

H CH3

CH2CH2SCH3H2C CH2

CH2

CH2CH2

N

H

S

N

H

CH2OH CH2SH CH2CHCH3

OH

CH2

OH

OH SH

OH

OH

CH2CNH2

O

CH2CH2CNH2

O

NH2

O

NH2

O

CH2COH

O

CH2CH2COH

O

OH

O

OH

O

CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2 CH2CH2CH2NHCNH2

NH

CH2

N

H

N

NH2

NH2

NH2

N

HN

H

N

+

G

A

V

I

L

P

M

F

W

Glycine

Alanine

Valine

Isoleucine

Leucine

Proline

Methionine

Phenylalanine

Tryptophan

Gly

Ala

Val

Ile

Leu

Pro

Met

Phe

Trp

S

C

T

Y

N

Q

D

E

K

Serine

Cysteine

Threonine

Tyrosine

Asparagine

Glutamine

Aspartate

Glutamate

Lysine

Ser

Cys

Thr

Tyr

Asn

Gln

Asp

Glu

Lys

R

H

Arginine

Histidine

Arg

His

1-Labbrev. AA Name

3-Labbrev.

1-Labbrev. AA Name

3-Labbrev.

GAVIL-PM (fake cold medicine)is For Winners!

You’ll find itSouth of the CiTYin the North Quadrant

Need help? Just askChief DElaware or KRazy Horse

nonpolar polar

acid base

H CH3

S N

H

OH

SH

OH

OH

NH2

O

NH2

O

OH

O OH

O

NH2

NH2

NH

N

HN

H

N

G A V I L

P F W

M

S

T YC

N Q

D

E

K

R

H

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

OHO

OH

N

H

N

Practice Naming

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

C C OH

O

N

H H

H C C OH

O

N

H H

H

Leucine, LGlutamate, E

Tyrosine, YHistidine, H

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

N

H

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

NH2

O

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

S

C C OH

O

N

H H

H

NH2

NH

N

H

Practice Naming

Arginine, RMethionine, M

Asparagine, NTryptophan, W