The Amino Acid chain serves an essential role within the human body. It is responsible for food digestion, tissue healing, and the growth of the body. It is the building block of the body and is responsible for its pH balance. And store nitrogen in our bodies. Asparagine and glutamine are amino acid derivatives found in the body that are responsible for nitrogen retention.
You can Read More Chemistry Articles.
This section will cover amino acids, amino acid classes, and the functions of amino acids.
What is an Amino Acid Chain?
Amino acids are organic molecules with two functional groups, namely amino (NH2) and carboxylic (COOH), as well as an organic side chain. Twenty amino acids are used to construct a protein. Proteins may have one or more polypeptide chains composed of amino acids. The chain sequence of amino acids causes the polypeptide to fold into a physiologically active conformation.
It is responsible for food digestion, tissue healing, and the growth of the body. It is the building block of the body and is responsible for its pH balance. And store nitrogen in our bodies. Asparagine and Glutamine are amino acid derivatives found in the body that are responsible for nitrogen retention.
Types of Amino Acid
Based on the location of the functional groups, four types of amino acids are identified.
- Alpha-Amino acid
- Beta-Amino acid
- Gamma-Amino acid
- Delta Amino acid
Alpha-Amino Acid
- Alpha-amino acid is the amino acid containing an amine group connected to the alpha carbon atom, i.e., next to the carbonyl group.
- An alpha-amino acid has the generic formula H2NCHRCOOH, where R is an organic side chain.
- Glycine and Alanine are alpha-amino acid examples.
Beta-Amino Acid
- The beta-amino acid has an amine group connected to the beta-carbon atom of a carboxylic acid group.
- A beta-amino acid has the generic formula H2NCH2CH2COOH, where R is an organic side chain.
- Lysine and Arginine are beta-amino acid examples.
Gamma-Amino Acid
- Gamma-Amino acid is the amino acid in which an amine group is connected to the gamma carbon atom via a carboxylic acid group.
- C4H9NO2 is the common formula for gamma-amino acids.
- Gamma-amino acids include 2-aminoisobutyric acid and Aminobutyric acid.
Delta-Amino Acid
- Delta-amino acid is the amino acid with an amine group connected to the carbonyl group of the delta carbon atom.
- C5H12NO2+ is the usual formula for a delta-amino acid.
Based on the placement of the amine group in Fischer projection, two types of amino acids are distinguished.
- L-Amino acid
- D-Amino acid
L-Amino acid
- L-Amino acid has an amine group on the left when shown using the Fischer projection, with the carboxylic acid group on top and the carbon chain at the bottom.
- They are levorotatory, meaning they rotate the plane-polarized light in the direction of the hands of a clock. They have been replaced by the R notation and are employed by cells to synthesize proteins.
D-Amino acid
D-Amino acid has an amine group on the right when represented by the Fischer projection, with the carboxylic acid group on top and the carbon chain at the bottom.
They are dextrorotatory, meaning that they rotate the plane-polarized light in the opposite direction of the clock. They are prevalent in bacterial cell walls and are replaced by S notation.
Two types of amino acids can be identified based on their synthesis within the body.
- Essential Amino Acid
- Non-Essential Amino Acid
Essential Amino Acid
Essential Amino Acids are those that cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from the diet.
- They aid in the development and maintenance of muscular tissue.
- 9 of the 20 amino acids are considered essential amino acids.
- It is essential for information transmission to the brain.
Histidine, Leucine, lysine, threonine, methionine, isoleucine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, and valine are essential amino acids.
Non-Essential Amino Acid
Non-Essential Amino Acid refers to amino acids synthesized by the body and not necessary in the diet.
- It has a crucial role in eliminating pollutants, synthesizing WBC and RBC, and enhancing brain function.
- Eleven of the twenty amino acids are non-essential.
- Alanine, Arginine, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Cysteine, Glutamic Acid, Glutamine, Glycine, Proline, Serine, and Tyrosine are vital amino acids.
Functions of Amino Acid
- Amino acids assist the body in eliminating toxins.
- They support protein synthesis and growth hormone production.
- They contribute to glucose synthesis.
- They aid in sleep cycle regulation.
- An amino acid deficit can result in insomnia, depression, appetite loss, edema, headache, and anemia.
Frequently Asked Questions on Amino Acid Chain
Q.1 What exactly is an amino acid?
Amino acids are organic molecules with two functional groups, namely amino (NH2) and carboxylic (COOH), as well as an organic side chain. Twenty amino acids are used to construct a protein.
Proteins may have one or more polypeptide chains composed of amino acids.
The chain sequence of amino acids causes the polypeptide to fold into a physiologically active conformation.
Q.2 What are essential amino acids?
Essential Amino Acids are amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the body and must be ingested. They aid in the growth and regeneration of muscle tissue. Nine of the twenty amino acids are regarded to be essential. It is essential for the transmission of information to the brain.
Essential amino acids include Histidine, Leucine, lysine, threonine, methionine, isoleucine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, and valine.
Q.3 What are the functions of amino acids?
Amino acids aid in the elimination of poisons from the body.
They aid in the production of proteins and growth hormones.
They contribute to the synthesis of glucose.
They facilitate the regulation of the sleep cycle.
A lack of amino acids can result in insomnia, sadness, loss of appetite, edema, headache, and anemia.
Q.4 What is an alpha-amino acid?
Alpha-amino acid is the amino acid containing an amine group connected to the alpha carbon atom, i.e., next to the carbonyl group.
An alpha-amino acid has the generic formula H2NCHRCOOH, where R is an organic side chain.
Glycine and Alanine are alpha-amino acid examples.
Q.5 What is a L-amino acid?
L-Amino acid, as depicted by the Fischer projection, has an amine group on the left, with the carboxylic acid group on top and the carbon chain at the bottom.
They are levorotatory, meaning they rotate the plane-polarized light clockwise. They have been replaced by R notation and are utilized to synthesize proteins by cells.
