Amino Acids And Proteins

Mahpara Gondal
Rashid Latif College of Pharmacy
 Objectives

 List essential amino acids,

 Semiessential amino acids
 Non-essential amino acids
 why they are called so.
 Learn the physical and other properties of amino
acids
 Learn the general functions of amino acids.
 Amino Acids

 Nutritionally, amino acids are of two types:

 (a) Essential
 (b) Non-essential.
 (c) There is also a third group of semi-essential amino acids.
Cont…

 (a) Essential amino acids:

 These are the ones which are not synthesised by the
body and must be taken in diet. Because they are
essential for proper growth.
 They also called indispensable amino acids.
 They include valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine,
threonine, tryptophan, methionine, and lysine.
 Cont…

 (b) Non-essential amino acids: They can be

synthesised by the body and may not be the requisite
components of the diet.
 They also called Dispensable amino acids.
 These are Glutamic acid, aspartic acid, alanine, serine,
proline, hydroxy proline.
 Cont…

 (c) Semi-essential amino acids: These are growth

promoting factors since they are not synthesised in
sufficient quantity during growth. They include
arginine, cystine, Glycine and histidine.
 Basically they become essential in growing children,
pregnancy and lactating women.
• They also called semi-indispensable amino acids.
 Properties of Amino Acids

Physical Properties:
 They are colourless
 Crystalline substances
 more soluble in water than in polar solvents.
 Cont…

Isomerism:
 Two types of isomerism are shown by amino acids
basically due to the presence of asymmetric carbon
atom.
 Glycine has no asymmetric carbon atom in its structure
hence is optically inactive.
 Cont…

(a) Stereoisomerism:
All amino acids except glycine exist in D and L isomers.
In D-amino acids – NH2 group is on the right hand while
in L-amino acids it is oriented to the left.
 Cont…

Note:
 Natural proteins of animals and plants
generally contain L-amino acids.
 D-amino acids occur in bacteria.
 Cont…

(b) Optical Isomerism:

All amino acids except glycine have asymmetric carbon
atom.
Consequently all but glycine exhibit ‘optical’ activities and
rotate the plane of plane polarised light and exist as
dextrorotatory (d) or laevorotatory (l) isomers.
Optical activity depends on the pH and side chain.
Few amino acids like isoleucine and threonine have an
additional asymmetric carbon in their structures
 Cont…

Amphoteric Nature and Isoelectric pH:

The -NH2 and -COOH groups of amino acids are ionizable
groups. Further, charged polar side chains of few amino
acids also ionise. Depending on the pH of the solution
these groups act as proton donors (acids) or proton
acceptors (bases). This property is called as amphoteric
and therefore amino acids are called as ampholytes.
 Cont…

 At a specific pH the amino acid carries both the

charges in equal number and exists as dipolar ion or
“Zwitterion”.
 At this point the net charge on it is zero, i.e. positive
charges and negative charges on the protein/amino
acid molecule equalizes.
 The pH at which it occurs without any charge on it is
called isoelectric pH.
Cont…
 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.
(b) Specific amino acids give rise to specialised products, e.g.
• Tyrosine forms hormones such as thyroid hormones,
(T3, T4), epinephrine and norepinephrine and a pigment called melanin.
• Tryptophan can synthesise a vitamin called niacin.
• Glycine, arginine and methionine synthesise creatine.
• Glycine and cysteine help in synthesis of Bile salts.
• Glutamate, cysteine and glycine synthesise glutathione.
• Histidine changes to histamine on decarboxylation
 Cont…

 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.
 Some amino acids such as glycine and cysteine are
used as detoxicants of specific substances.
 Cystine and methionine are sources of sulphur.