Biochemistry

Amino acids

Naima. A. Mohed

Amino acids
Amino acids are a group of chemical compounds that form the basic structural unit of all proteins. Each amino acid molecule consists of amino and carboxyl group of atom linked of a variable chain or ring of a carbon atoms. Individual amino acid molecule are linked together by chemical bonds called peptide bonds to form short chains of molecules called polypeptide

hundreds of polypeptides are in turn linked together, also by peptide bond to form a protein molecule. What differentiates on protein from another is sequence of amino acids there are 20 different amino acids that make up all the protein in the body of these 12 can be made by the body. They are known as non essential amino acids because they do not need to be obtained from the diet.

 The other 8 known as the essential amino acids can not be made by the body and must there fore be obtained from the diet.

Structure of an amino acid

H

NH2

COOH

 They are known as amino acids because the contain an amino group ( -NH2) and an acidic group (-COOH) they also contain a side chain (R-group) which determines the characteristic and function of an amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. If any amino acid becomes deficient which is specific for particular protein then the synthesis of that particular protein will not take place

 It is there fore very important to design our eating habits in such a way that all amino acids specially the essential ones should be consumed every day. more than 300 amino acids have been described but only 20 amino acids have present in mammaline tissues and take part in protein synthesis .they have been classified as acidic or basic polar or non polar charged or un charged and also according to their requirement as essential or non essential. the most important classification is the essential and non essential amino acids

Essential amino acids

These amino acids which can not be synthesized in our body and there fore they have to be taken in our diet. Non essential amino acids: These amino acids which are continuously being synthesized in our body and there fore not essential requirement in our diet

Semi essential amino acids

Those amino acids which are synthesized in the body but are not produced in adequate amount to meet the metabolic requirement there fore should be taken in diet. Special amino acids: Those amino acids as produced in the body but do not take part in protein synthesis .they have their own special function

Sulphur containing amino acids

Those amino acids contain sulphur in their structure and they provide sulphur to the body. Aromatic amino acids: They contain aromatic benzine ring in the molecules

Acidic amino acids:

They have more carboxyl group then amino group e.g.. mono-amine .dicarboxyl acid. Basic amino acid: They have more amino group then carboxyl group e.g. diomino manocarboxylic acid.

Names and abbreviations of the standard amino acids:

Amino acid Alanine Arginine Asparagine Aspartic acid Cysteine Glutamic acid Glutamine Glycine Three letters abbreviation Ala Arg Asn Asp Cys Glu Gln Gly

Histidine Isoleucine Leucine Lysine Methionine Phenylalanine Proline Serine Threonine Tryptophan

His Iie Leu Lys Met Phe Pro Ser Thr Trp

Tyrosine Valine

Tyr val

Amino Acids Protein forming (standard amino acids) (non-standard amino acids) non-protein Forming

PROTEIN FORMING Essential amino acids non-essential amino acids alanine asparagine asparic acid cysteine glutamic acid glycine hydroxylysine

Methaonine Arganine Theonine Tryptophan Valine Isoleucine Leucine

NON-PROTEIN FORMING
special amino acids Citrulline Ornithine Taurin Dopa GABA

Neutral non-polar amino acids

The neutral non polar amino acids contain hydrocarbon R group .the term neutral is used because these are R group do not bear positive or negative charges. because of their tendency to interact poorly with water non polar hydrophobic

Polar amino acids

Because of the presence of functional group that are capable of hydrogen bonding polar amino acids easily interact with water polar amino acids are described as hydrophilic or water loving

Functional of specific amino acids

Amino acids which take part in protein synthesis metheonine. Cysteine. Cystin These amino acids are sulphur containing amino acids and provides sulfur to the body.

Aspartic acid. takes part in the synthesis of purines and pyrimidines bases for nucleic acid. Glutamic acid. takes part in the synthesis of glutathion. Glycine.conjugates with cholic acid bile acid to synthesize Na.glycocholate bile salt .in the liver it detoxifies benzonic acid by converting it into hippuric acid which is excrete out in urine this is the detoxification action of glycine. Phenylalanine. synthesizes tyrosine DopA Nor adrenaline. adrenaline. Tyrosine. synthesized thyroid hormone I.e. thyroxine . Nor adrenaline . adrenaline

 Tryptophan.60mg of tryptophan in the body produce 1mg of niacin vit B3. Proline. major constituent of connective tissues as hydroxyproline.eg in collagen

Amino acids which do not take part in protein synthesis.

Citrulline and ornithine used in the formation of urea from ammonia in urea cycle. Taurine conjugates with cholic acid (bile acid) to synthesize Na-taurocholate (bile salt) GABA Acts as a neurotransmitter.

 Dopa 1. acts as a neurotransmitter 2. Used in the treatment of parkinsonism.