Biochemistry (Nursing)

Module #5 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

Lesson title: AMINO ACIDS

Learning Targets: Materials: Book, pen and notebook
At the end of the module, students will be able to:
1. Define and know the importance of amino acids in relation References:
with proteins; Espino-Cabatit (1988) Biochemistry 12th ed.
2. Identify the different structures of amino acids; and, UST Press, Manila
3. Identify the different classification and differentiate the
physical from chemical properties of amino acids. Vasudevan, DM. (2013) Textbook of
Biochemistry for Medical Students (7th Ed).
Retrieved from https://b-
ok.cc/book/2515179/4ebf40

A. LESSON PREVIEW/ REVIEW

As a review for previous lesson related to Cell and its organelles, answer or solve the given riddles:

ANSWER
Riddle 1: I’m a real powerhouse that’s plain to see, I break down food and release energy. What
am I?
Riddle 2: I’ve been called the storage tank. By those with little taste. I’m a sack filled with water,
food, enzymes, and waste. What am I?
Riddle 3: Since I contain many enzymes, I can digest an injured cell; And break down a large
molecule into s smaller one as well. What am I?
Riddle 4: I’m strong and stiff. Getting through me is rough. I’m found only in plant cells. I’m what
makes them so tough. What am I?
Riddle 5: I’m a series of tubes and part of the internal delivery system. I transport proteins and
other things as well. What am I?
Riddle 6: I’m full of holes. Flexible and thin. I control what gets out. As well as what comes in. What
am I?
Riddle 7: Two things I imposter. I act like a muscle and skeleton. If spiders like proteins, they would
love my web. What am I?
Riddle 8: Lipids and proteins I receive but gift wrapping is my specialty. I’m only one stop in many
and distribute items like Fed Ex. What am I?
Riddle 9: I’m the “brain” of the cell. Or so they say, I regulate activities from day to day. What am
I?
Riddle 10: I’m the fluid in the cell that fills in the space. My main purpose is to hold organelles in
place. What am I?

PREVIEW:
The session will begin with a video about how a good mix of sleep, nutrition, and exercise keep your muscles as big and
strong as possible. Another one talks about foods that are rich in an sleep-enhancing amino acid called tryptophan.
Pay attention to important details, and after watching, be able to give your understanding about the video.
Here are the links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tM1LFFxeKghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQOvCglL8Rc

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 Biochemistry (Nursing)
Module #5 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

B. MAIN LESSON

AMINO ACIDS
● Building blocks/stones of proteins
● Fundamental sub-units of proteins

GENERAL FORMULA:

● Carboxyl group = acidic properties

● Amino group = basic properties
● Chiral C = asymmetric carbon

PROPERTIES:
PHYSICAL:
1. White crystalline substances
2. Soluble in cold water, except cysteine and tyrosine which are more soluble in hot water
3. Insoluble in alcohol and ether except proline and hydroxyproline
4. All amino acids except proline are precipitated off from their solutions by alcohol, but not by (NH4)2SO4 or NaCl
5. Most of them are sweet like glycine, alanine, serine ad proline, others like leucine are tasteless; while some are
bitter like arginine
CHEMICAL:
1. Amino acids are amphoteric due to the presence of both carboxyl and amino groups as mentioned above. As such
they form crystalline salts with metallic bases and with mineral acids
2. Form esters with alcohol – by fractional distillation
3. Amino acids can be acetylated, benzylated ormethylated in the presence of acetic acid, benzoic acid or methyl
group, respectively.
● These reactions occur in the body during detoxication processes
4. All amino acids except proline and hydroxyproline react with nitrous acid with the liberation of nitrogen gas.
● This is the principle involved in Van Slyke method for determining amino groups in proteins, blood and other
biological substances
5. FORMALDEHYDE REACTION: When an excess of neutral formaldehyde is added to neutral amino acid solution,
a distinctly acid mixture is produced
● The hydrogens of the amine group are replaced by a methylene group thus destroying the basic property and
allowing the carboxyl to assert itself freely
● Subsequent titration with standard alkali measures the amount of the free carboxyl groups.
● Basis of Sorensen test
6. Amino acids form acyl halides
● The amino group is previously protected by acetylation.
● The protecting (-CO-CH3) group may subsequently be removed by using HCl
7. By heating with barium hydroxide, primary amines are formed due to the breaking off the carboxyl group with
formation of CO2
8. When amino acids are dehydrated, they unite with each other forming a ring, diketopiperazine
● On boiling with HCl, diketopiperazine yields dipeptide
● Fischer utilized this process in synthesizing polypeptides from amino acids

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 Biochemistry (Nursing)
Module #5 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

CHARACTERISTICS:
1. Optically active
● All amino acids are optically active except glycine( its side chain is a hydrogen atom)
● Due to the presence of chiral/asymmetric carbon
● Ability to rotate the plane p,arized light in a polarimeter
1.a. dextrorotatory (+) – plane polarized light shifted to the right
1.b. levorotatory (+) - plane polarized light shifted to the left
2. Amphoteric / ampholyte
● Can act as an acid (proton donor) & as a base (proton acceptor)
● COOH – proton donor (acid)
● NH2 – proton acceptor (base)
3. Zwitterion / dipolar ion
● Possesses both a positive or negative ion
● Acidity is due to π electron delocalization. The OH bond in COOH weakens so it is readily/easily given off
or lost as a proton and is accepted by the lone pair in NH3
4. Isoelectric Point (pI)
● The pH value at which zwitterion state exists at a maximum
● Amino acids & proteins assume a zero net charge
● Amino acids & proteins are least soluble (ppt. form)
● No integration in an electric field
❖ Above pI : favors anionic state
❖ Below pI : favors cationic state
Eg. Isoelectric Point (pI) :
Asp = 2.8 ala = 6.1
Glu = 3.2 lys = 9.7
Ser = 5.7 arg = 10.8
Val = 6
IMPORTANCE OF pI:
1. Used in buffer systems
2. For separation & identification purposes – since each amino acid has its distinct pI
3. Show structural changes in globular CHON – the explanation of structures of biological reactions
5. ACID – BASE PROPERTY
ACIDIC

BASIC

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 Biochemistry (Nursing)
Module #5 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

CLASSIFICATION OF AMINO ACIDS:

I. ACCORDING TO R-GROUP
A. NEUTRAL OR STRAIGHT CHAIN AMINO ACIDS: (POLAR) Glycine (gly)
Alanine (ala)

B. BRANCHED CHAIN AMINO ACIDS: Valine (val)

Leucine (leu)
Isoleucine (ile)
C. ACIDIC AMINO ACIDS: (POLAR) Aspartic acid (asp)
Glutamic acid (glu)

D. BASIC AMINO ACIDS (POLAR) Lysine (lys)

Histidine (his)
Arginine (arg)
E. AROMATIC AMINO ACIDS (NON-POLAR) Phenylalanine (phe)
Tyrosine (tyr)
Tryptophan (trp)
F. SULFUR-CONTAINING AMINO ACIDS Methionine (meth)
Cysteine (Cys or cys1)
Cystine (Cys or Cys2)
G. HYDROXY-CONTAINING AMINO ACIDS Serine
Threonine

H. IMINO ACIDS – not an amino acid because of the absence Proline (pro)
of NH2 but only NH Hydroxyproline (hpr)

I. ALIPHATIC R-GROUP (NON-POLAR) Glycine Leucine

Alanine Isoleucine
Proline Methionine
Valine

I- ACCORDING TO IMPORTANCE:

A. ESSENTIAL / INDISPENSABLE AMINO ACIDS Phenylalanine Tryptophan Histidine

● Those which cannot be synthesized in the body Valine Isoleucine Arginine
● Must be provided in the diet Threonine Methionine Leucine
● Primarily concerned with growth and maintenance of life Lysine

*Partially essential or Semiessential.

- Growing children require them in food. But they are not essential for
the adult individual.

B. NON-ESSENTIAL / DISPENSABLE AMINO ACIDS Glycine Norleucine

● Those which can be produced in the body Glutamic acidCitruline
Alanine Tyrosine

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 Biochemistry (Nursing)
Module #5 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

Hydroxyglutamic acidProline
Serine Cysteine
Aspartic acidHydroxyroline
C. CONDITIONALLY ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS Arginine
● When a person is suffering from a moderate to severe chronic Glycine
illness, person may lose the ability to manufacture enough non- Cysteine
essential amino acids and thus require supplementation. Tyrosine
Problems with digestion will also necessitate supplementation of Proline
“non-essential” amino acids. These amino acids are normally Glutamine
Taurine
non-essential, but become essential during times of physiological
stress. Then these amino acids have to be taken in food or
through supplements

II. ACCORDING TO METABOLISM

A. Purely Ketogenic Leucine

Lysine
because it is converted to ketone bodies

B. Ketogenic and Glucogenic Isoleucine Phenylalanine Threonine

- are partially ketogenic and partially glucogenic. Tyrosine Tryptophan
- During metabolism, part of the carbon skeleton of these
amino acids will enter the ketogenic pathway and the other
part to glucogenic pathway

C. Purely glucogenic All the remaining 14 amino acids

- are purely glucogenic as they enter only into the glucogenic
pathway which provide a substrate for gluconeogenesis.

OTHER USES:
❖ Arginine – essential in spermatogenesis
❖ Glutamic acid – has been widely studied for its effect in raising the general intelligence level of subnormal patients
Used for the treatment of psychomotor and petit mal attacks
❖ Glycine: Simplest amino acid and has is sweet in taste.
❖ Inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitters (IAA): GABA, glycine, B-alanine, Taurine
❖ Excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters: L-glutamate, L-Aspartate, L-cysteine, and L-Homocysteine

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 Biochemistry (Nursing)
Module #5 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING

You will answer and rationalize this by yourself. This will be recorded as your quiz. One (1) point will be given to the correct
answer and another one (1) point for the correct ratio. Superimpositions or erasures in your answer/ratio is not allowed. You
are given 20 minutes for this activity.

1. Which of the following groups of amino acids contains a nonpolar, aliphatic R groups.
A. Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, and Tryptophan
B. Serine, Threonine, Cysteine
C. Glycine, Alanine, Leucine
D. Lysine, Arginine, Histidine
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Which of the following is an imino acid?
A. Glycine
B. Proline
C. Alanine
D. Serine
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. The general structure of all amino acids are same except for ___________
A. Alanine
B. Proline
C. Serine
D. Lysine
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Glycine, Serine, Alanine are amphoteric molecules.
A. True
B. False
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Of the 20 amino acids, only ________ is not optically active.
A. Alanine
B. Glycine
C. Lysine
D. Proline
E. Histidine
ANSWER: ________

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 Biochemistry (Nursing)
Module #5 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Amino acids are ampholyte because they can function as either a(n):
A. Acid or a base
B. Polar or nonpolar molecule
C. Standard or a nonstandard monomer in proteins.
D. Neutral molecule or an ion
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Which of the following amino acids cannot provide a substrate for gluconeogenesis?
A. Isoleucine
B. Leucine
C. Tryptophan
D. Histidine
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Which of the following pairs is incorrectly matched?
I. Histidine: Basic amino acid
II. Valine: Branched amino acid
III. Leucine: Basic amino acid.
IV. Aspartic acid: Acidic amino acid
V. Methionine: Sulfur containing amino acid
A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. I and III
E. II and III
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. Which of the following amino acids are not essential?
I. Phenylalanine
II. Valine
III. Glycine
IV. Threonine
V. Alanine
A. I and II
B. II and III
C. III and V
D. II, III and IV

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 Biochemistry (Nursing)
Module #5 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

E. I, III and V
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. The following are excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters, EXCEPT:
I. L-glutamate
II. Glycine
III. Taurine
IV. L-cysteine
V. L-aspartate
A. I and IV
B. II and III
C. I and III
D. I, IV and V
E. I, III, IV and V
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:___________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

C. LESSON WRAP-UP
CONCEPT MAP

Complete the concept map about the classifications of amino acid according to R-group. This concept map facilitates your
comprehension with its visual format, provides clear communication of complex ideas, and stimulates your creativity. Refer
your answer in the word box.

Aliphatic R-group Polar Neutral Leucine Tyrosine

Amino Acid Proline Non-polar Aromatic R-group Glutamine
Glycine Methionine Alanine Asparagine Basic
Acidic Isoleucine Serine Valine Glutaminc Acid
Phenylalanine Tryptophan Lysine Histidine Arginine
Cysteine Aspartic Acid Threonine

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 Biochemistry (Nursing)
Module #5 Student Activity Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ________________________________________ Date: ________________

AMINO ACID

ACIDIC

LYSINE
HISTIDINE
ARGININE

NON POLAR

AROMATIC
R-GROUP

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