Assignment #1: Basic Biochemistry

This is a Web/Book search-based assignment. You are free to use any website or book for this
assignment.

1. What are amino acids? Draw their general chemical formula? Indicate the alpha (α) carbon,
side chain R group, amino and carboxylic acid group in the structure.

2. Write down one letter code, full name and three letter code of 20 α-amino acids? Start A to Z.
One Letter Code Full Name Three letter code
1. A Alanine Ala
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

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3. Define essential and nonessential amino acids

4. Draw the basic general structure of all 20 α-amino acids. Circle the side chain. One example is
shown. All structures should be dawn by pencil.

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5. Which amino acids contain
(i) negatively charged (acidic) R groups

(ii) positively charged (basic) R groups

(iii) polar neutral R groups

(iv) Hydrophobic R groups

(v) aromatic R groups

6. What is chiral carbon? Draw the structure of L-alanine and D-alanine

7. Define the term ‘peptide bond’. What type of bond is the peptide bond? Why the peptide bond
is rigid. What is C and N-terminal in a peptide

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8. Draw the structure of each of the following peptides
(i) F-V

(ii) A-Q

(iii) K-W

9. Define the term (i) enzyme (ii) antibody (iii) transport protein (iv) structural protein (v) plasma
protein (v) membrane protein

10. Define i) primary structure and ii) secondary structure of the protein.