Amino Acid: Structure and Classification

Lecture 1 of protein by Pro. Dr. Sura A.
Abdulsattar ( 2019-2020)
AMINO ACID: STRUCTURE AND CLASSIFICATION.
Amino Acids are the building units of proteins. There are about 300 amino acids
occur in nature. Only 20 of them enter in proteins synthesis.
Structure of amino acids:

Each amino acid has 4 different groups attached to α- carbon (which is C-atom next
to COOH). These 4 groups are: amino group, COOH group, Hydrogen atom and
side Chain (R). At physiological pH (7.4), -COOH group is dissociated forming a
negatively charged carboxylate ion (COO- ) and amino group is protonated forming
positively charged ion (NH3 + ) forming Zwitter ion .
• Proline is an imino acid not amino acid .
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Lecture 1 of protein by Pro. Dr. Sura A. Abdulsattar ( 2019-2020)
Classification of Amino Acids:

I. Classification by R group
II. Chemical Classification
III. Nutritional Classification
IV. Metabolic Classification
Classification according to polarity of side chain (R):

A- Polar amino acids: in which R contains polar hydrophilic group so can
forms hydrogen bond with H2O. In those amino acids, R may contain:
1- OH group : as in serine, threonine and tyrosine
2- - SH group : as in cysteine
3- amide group: as in glutamine and aspargine
4- NH2 group or nitrogen act as a base (basic amino acids ): as lysine, arginine
and histidine
5- COOH group (acidic amino acids): as aspartic and glutamic.
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Figure: Classification by R group
B- Non polar amino acids: R is alkyl hydrophobic group which can’t enter in
hydrogen bond formation. 9 amino acids are non-polar (glycine, alanine,
valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenyl alanine, tryptophan, proline and
methionine).
The twenty common amino acids are often referred to using three-letter
abbreviations. The structures, names, and abbreviations for the twenty
common amino acids are shown below. Note that they are all α-amino acids.
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Each amino acid, aside from its name, has a three letter abbreviation and a one
letter code.
Nutritional Classification
1- Essential Amino Acids 10 in number can’t be synthesized in the body,
essential to be taken in diet. Their deficiency affects growth, health and protein
synthesis.
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2- Semi-essential formed in the body but not in sufficient amount for body
requirements especially in children. Arginine and histidine are semi-essential
3- Non-essential can be synthesized in the body.
Non Standard Amino Acids

A nonstandard amino acid is an amino acid that occurs naturally in cells but do not
participate in peptide synthesis. Many are metabolic intermediates eg. ornithine and
citrulline are intermediates in urea biosynthesis
Amino Acid Derivatives
Chemical derivatives of amino acids also have important biological functions, eg.
Catecholamines (below) lack the carboxylate of amino acids
GABA & Dopamine are neurotransmitters. Histamine mediates parts of the immune
response.
Functions of Amino Acids

Apart from being the monomeric constituents of proteins and peptides, amino acids
serve variety of functions.
(a) Some amino acids are converted to carbohydrates and are called as glucogenic
amino acids.
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(b) Specific amino acids give rise to specialized products, e.g.

• Tyrosine forms hormones such as thyroid hormones, (T3, T4), epinephrine and
norepinephrine and a pigment called melanin.
• Tryptophan can synthesize a vitamin called niacin.
• Glycine, arginine and methionine synthesis creatine.
• Glycine and cysteine help in synthesize of Bile salts.
• Glutamate, cysteine and glycine synthesis glutathione.
• Histidine changes to histamine on decarboxylation.
• Serotonin is formed from tryptophan.
• Glycine is used for the synthesis of haem.
• Pyrimidines and purines use several amino acids for their synthesis such as
aspartate and glutamine for pyrimidines and glycine, aspartic acid, Glutamine and
serine for purine synthesis.
(c) Some amino acids such as glycine and cysteine are used as detoxicants of specific
substances.
(d) Methionine acts as “active” methionine (S-adenosylmethionine) and transfers
methyl group to various substances by transmethylation.
(e) Cystine and methionine are sources of sulphur

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Lecture 1 of protein by Pro. Dr. Sura A.

AMINO ACID: STRUCTURE AND CLASSIFICATION.

Structure of amino acids:

Classification of Amino Acids:

Classification according to polarity of side chain (R):

Figure: Classification by R group

3- Non-essential can be synthesized in the body.

Non Standard Amino Acids

Functions of Amino Acids

(b) Specific amino acids give rise to specialized products, e.g.

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