Amino Acids Structures and Names

Overview of Amino Acids Structures and Names –

Amino acids are made up of a core carbon atom (alpha carbon) linked to four different groups: an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), a hydrogen atom, and a variable side chain. One amino acid differs from another due to its distinct side chain arrangement.
The structures and nomenclature of amino acids are the basis for understanding their properties, roles, and interactions in biological systems. Researchers can better understand protein structure and function by comprehending their unique molecular configurations and nomenclature.
The human body cannot synthesise essential amino acids, hence they must be acquired through diet. They consist of histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

The body can synthesise non-essential amino acids, which are not necessary in the diet. They are alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine.
Conditionally essential amino acids become necessary under particular physiological situations, such as disease or stress. Examples are arginine, cysteine, glutamine, tyrosine, glycine, ornithine, proline, and serine.
Amino acid structures differ according to the arrangement of atoms in their side chains, which might be aliphatic, aromatic, polar, or charged. Each amino acid has its own set of properties and functions due to structural variations.

Proteins’ biochemical properties and catalytic activity are determined by amino acid architectures, which influence their capacity to bind substrates, regulate enzymatic events, and participate in signalling pathways required for cellular communication and homeostasis. Protein qualities and functions are determined by their amino acid structures, which influence cellular activities and organismal physiology.