Biochemistry

De nitions

Hydrocarbon: a substance composed of carbon and hydrogen; exceptions include substances

like tetrabromomethane (or carbon tetrabromide) (CBr4), which is still considered a
hydrocarbon (though its technically called a halogenated hydrocarbon)

Aliphatic: denoting a straight-chained substance with only hydrogen and carbon atoms; one of
the two broad classes of hydrocarbons, the other being aromatic hydrocarbons

Benzene: an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula C₆H₆. The benzene
molecule is composed of six carbon atoms joined in a planar ring with one hydrogen atom
attached to each. Because it contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms, benzene is classed as
a hydrocarbon.

Phenyl: the phenyl group, or phenyl ring, is a cyclic group of atoms with the formula C₆H₅.
Phenyl groups are closely related to benzene and can be viewed as a benzene ring, minus a
hydrogen.

Phenol: an aromatic organic compound with the molecular formula C6H5OH. It is a white
crystalline solid that is volatile. The molecule consists of a phenyl group (−C6H5) bonded to a
hydroxy group (−OH). Mildly acidic.

Indole: an aromatic heterocyclic organic compound with formula C8H7N. It has a bicyclic
structure, consisting of a six-membered benzene ring fused to a ve-membered pyrrole ring.

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Amino acids

Sy Lett Side chain Side Polarity Solubility pH 7 Acidit

m ers chain charge y/
bo comm basicit
l onalitie y
s

Glycine G Gly -H

Alanine A Ala Methyl

Valine V Val Isopropyl

Aliphati Non- Lipid- Neutral Neutral
Leucine L Leu Isobutyl c CxHx polar soluble
Isoleucine I Ile Sec-butyl

Proline P Pro 5 ring w/ N and C

Phenylala F Phe CH2-benzene

nine Non- Lipid-
polar soluble
Tryptopha W Trp CH2-indole Aromati Neutral Neutral
n c
Tyrosine Y Tyr CH2-phenol Polar Water-
soluble

Aspartate D Asp CH2-carboxyl

Carbox Polar Water- Negative Acidic
Glutamat E Glu (CH2)2-carboxyl yl soluble (-)
e

Arginine R Arg (CH2)3-guanidino

Histidine H His CH2-imidazole N Polar Water- Positive Basic

groups soluble (+)
Lysine K Lys (CH2)4-NH2

Serine S Ser CH2OH

Alcohol Polar Water- Neutral Neutral
Threonine T Thr CH(OH)-CH3 soluble

Cysteine C Cys CH2SH Polar Water-

Thiol/ soluble Neutral Neutral
sulfur
Methionin M Met (CH2)2-S-CH3 Non- Lipid-
e polar soluble

Aspargine N Asn CH2-amide

Amide Polar Water- Neutral Neutral
Glutamine Q Gln (CH2)2-amide soluble