They are categorized according to their side groups as nonpolar, polar, positively, or negatively charged or aromatic. hydrophilic, as well as the size of side chains. Some of the important properties of side chains include acidic, basic, or neutral, hydrophobic vs. The chemical and physical properties of the side chains provide the functionally important properties to amino acids. Image Source: Techguy78, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. The amino (-NH2) and carboxyl (-COOH) are the same for all amino acids but the side chain (R group) is specific for each amino acid. Thus, amino acids do not assume a neutral form in an aqueous environment. In the physiological range, both the carboxylic acid and amino groups are completely ionized allowing amino acids to act as either an acid or a base. Except for the amino acid proline, they all consist of a central carbon atom covalently bonded to an amino group, a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group, and a variable R group (Figure 1). Amino acids are used to make proteinsĪmino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Understanding gene expression thus requires an examination of two processes, the activation of gene expression to make a “message” and the reading of this message to build a specific protein. The genes were always present in those bud cells but were controlled to turn on at the proper time. Environmental signals affiliated with the coming of spring induce genes in the buds to turn on and drive the dramatic changes of leaf development and flowering. Trees and bushes, for example have dormant buds through the winter. The importance of gene expression is evident when you observe the changes plants go through during their lifecycle or during a season. Understand the concept of protein structure and its relation to protein function.Recognize the biological connection among mRNA, tRNA, amino acids, and proteins.Determine the amino acid sequence of a protein given the nucleotide sequence of a gene.
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