UNIT-II

AMINO ACIDS

DEFINITION OF AMINO ACID

 Amino acids are compounds containing amino groups (-NH2) and carboxyl (COOH) groups. So
amino acids are also called amino carboxylic acids.
 Amino acids are the essential components of all living cells.
 They are the building blocks of proteins.
 They are the monomers of the protein polymers.
 Animals and plants contain about 200 amino acids.
 But human body contains only about 60 amino acids.
 Of these only 20 amino acids are used as building blocks for the synthesis of proteins.
 These 20 amino acids are repeatedly used to synthesize millions of proteins just as millions of
words are composed out of only 26 alphabets, and have general formula

H
|
R – C - COOH
|
NH2

STRUCTURE OF AMINO ACIDS

S.No Name Three One Structure Special group

letters letter present

1. Glycine Gly G Linear chain

2. Alanine Ala A Linear chain

3. Valine Val V Branched chain

4. Leucine Leu L Branched chain

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5. Isoleucine Ile I Branched chain

6. Serine Ser S Hydroxyl

7. Threonine Thr T Hydroxyl

8. Cysteine Cys C Sulfhydryl

9. Methionine Met M Thioether

10. Aspartic acid Asp D β- carboxyl

11. Glutamic acid Glu E γ- carboxyl

12. Asparagine Asn N Amide

13. Glutamine Gln Q Amide

14. Lysine Lys K £ - amino

15. Arginine Arg R Guanidineo

16. Histidine His H Imidazole

17. Phenylalanine Phe F Benzene or

phenyl

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18. Tyrosine Tyr Y Phenol

19. Tryptophan Trp W Indole

20. Proline Pro P Pyrrolidine

CLASSIFICATION OF AMINO ACID

There are more than 200 amino acids in nature. Humans contains 60 amino acids. Ptoteins of humans
yield only 20 amino acids. Amino acids are classified in different ways.

 Classification based on Structure of the side chain

 Classification based on reaction in solution
 Classification based on polarity
 Classification based on nutritional requirement or biological importance

CLASSIFICATION BASED ON STRUCTURE OF THE SIDE CHAIN

On the basis of structure of side of the side chain (R group) amino acids are of three types, namely,
I. Aliphatic amino acids
II. Aromatic amino acids and
III. Heterocyclic amino acids

I. Aliphatic amino acids

The amino acids containing straight chain in the R group are called aliphatic amino acids.
The aliphatic amino acids are further classified 6 groups.
a) Simple amino acids: The amino acids have no functional group in their side chain. There are
five simple amino acids, namely, Glycine, alanine, valine, leucine and Isoleucine.

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 Glycine Alanine Valine

Leucine Isoleucine

b) Hydroxyl amino acids: These contain hydroxyl group in their side chain, namely, Serine and
threonine

Serine Threonine

c) Sulphur amino acids: These possess a sulfur atom in their side chain. E.g., methionine and
cysteine

Cyeteine Methionine

d) Acidic amino acids: These have a carboxyl group in their side chain. Eg., Aspartic acid and
glutamic acid.
e) Aminoacid amides: These are the derivatives of acidic amino acids in which one carboxyl group
has been transformed into an amide group (CO.NH2). e.g. Asparagine, glutamine.
f) Basic amino acids: These possess amino group in the side chain. e.g. Lysine, arginine.

II. Aromatic amino acids

 The amino acids containing benzene ring in their side chain are called as aromatic amino
acids e.g. Phenylalanine and tyrosine.

III Heterocyclic amino acids:

 These amino acids have in their side chain a ring which possesses at least one atom other
than the carbon. E.g. Tryptophan, histidine and proline (Imino acid).

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CLASSIFICATION BASED ON THE BASIS OF POLARITY

On the basis of polarity amino acids are dived into two types, namely,

1. Hydrophilic amino acids and

2. Hydrophobic amino acids
Hydrophilic amino acids

 The aminoacids interacts with water are called as hydrophilic aminoacids. They are positively,
eg., lysine, arginine or negatively charged eg., aspartic and glutamic acid. Some are uncharged
amino acids, eg., glycine.

Hydrophobicamino acids

 These amino acids do not interact with water. Example., Simple amino acids such as glycine,
alanine, valine, leucine and isoleucine. Hydrophobic aromatic amino acids are phenyl alanine,
and tyrosine.

CLASSIFICATION BASED ON NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENT OR BIOLOGICAL

IMPORTANCE/ ESSENTIAL AND NON-ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS

On the basis of nutritional requirement the amino acids are classified in two types.

1. Essential and
2. Non-essential amino acids

Essential amino acids

Essential amino acids are essential in the diet. The body cannot synthesize essential amino acids.
So they must be included in the diet. Hence they are essential in the diet. It is also called indispensable
amino acids. 10 amino acids are essential amino acids. (For memory they are called as “ Pvt Tim Hall”)

Essential amino Semi-essential

Non-essential amino acid
acid amino acid
Phenylalanine Arginine Alanine
Valine Histidine Asparagine
Threonine Aspartic acid
Tryptophan Cysteine
Isoleucine Glutamic acid
Methionine Glutamine
Leucine Glycine
Lysine Proline
Serine
Tyrosine

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 Essential amino acids Functions

Phenylalanine Important for the synthesis of catacholamines

Useful for muscle metabolism and in the treatment of
Valine
liverand gall bladder disorders.
Threonine Essential for antibody and collagen production
It the precursor for serotonin and melatonin (controls mood
Tryptophan
and sleep)
Isoleucine Regulates blood sugar
Involved in the synthesis of heamoglobin and glutathione
Methionine
(antioxidant)
Leucine Increase muscle mass and regulates blood sugar
Lysine Deficiency causes pellagra
Arginine Protects from kidney disease and cancer
Histidine Useful for growth and repair of tissues

Semi-essential amino acids

The two amino acids namely, Arginine and Histidine can be synthesized by adults and not by
growing children, hence these are considered as semi-essential amino acid. (remember Ah, to recall).
Thus 8 amino acids are absolutely essential while 2 are semi-essential.

Non-Essential amino acids

Amino acids which need not be included in the diet are called non-essential amino acids. They
can be synthesized in the cells from essential amino acids or other compounds. Hence these amino acids
need not be included in the diet. The amino acids, other than essential amino acids, are called non-
essential amino acids.

Non essential amino acids Functions

Alanine Helps in the metabolism of glucose

Asparagine Controls mood
Aspartic acid Increases stamina and prevent fatique
Cystine Helps in the production of collagen
Glutamic acid Used to treat mental disorder
Glutamine It promotes mental ability. Building block of DNA
and RNA
Glycine Retards muscle degradation
Proline Improves skin texture
Serine Production of antibodies
Tyrosine Important for production of adrenalin and nor
adrenaline and melatonin. Regulates nerve.

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