PROTEIN  The general structure of amino acid

includes an amino group and a

 one of the four macromolecules.
carboxyl group, both of which are
 major structural and functional
bonded to the α-carbon (the one next
components of all cells in the body.
to the carboxyl group). The α-carbon is
 act to facilitate biochemical reactions
also bonded to α- hydrogen and to the
among the most abundant biological
side chain group, which is represented
macromolecules.
by the letter R. The R group
 play a crucial role in a healthy,
determines the identity of the particular
balanced diet.
amino acid.
 twenty percent of the human body is
made up of proteins.
 the large, complex molecules that are Chemical Properties
critical for normal functioning of cells.
 A zwitterion is a molecule that has both
 a typical human cell contains about
negative and positive charges
9000 different kinds of proteins.
 Since amino acids have chiral center,
 the human body contains about
optical activity is observed
100,000 different proteins.
 Except for glycine which is achiral
 Proteins are needed for the synthesis
 Amino acids are amphoteric (able to
of enzymes, certain hormones, and
react both as a base and as an acid.)
some blood components; for the
 There are 20 known amino acids
maintenance and repair of existing
 Amino acids naturally occur in L form
tissues.
Acid–Base Properties of Amino Acids
Characteristics of Proteins
 A zwitterion is a molecule that has a
 All proteins contain the elements
positive charge on one atom and a
carbon ( 50-55 %) , hydrogen ( 6-7.3
negative charge on another atom, but
% ), oxygen (19-24 % ) , and nitrogen (
which has no net charge.
13-19 % ) ; most also contain sulfur
 Note that the net charge on a
( 0-4 % ). The presence of nitrogen in
zwitterion is zero even though parts of
proteins sets them apart from
the molecule carry charges.
carbohydrates and lipids.
 Zwitterion structure changes when the
 The average nitrogen content of
pH of a solution containing an amino
proteins is 15.4% by mass.
acid is changed from neutral either to
 Other elements, such as phosphorus
acidic (low pH) by adding an acid such
and iron, are essential constituents of
as HCl or to basic (high pH) by adding
certain specialized proteins.
a base such as NaOH.
Amino Acids: The building blocks for  In an acidic solution, the zwitterion
Proteins accepts a proton (H+) to form a
positively charged ion.
 More than 700 different naturally
 In basic solution, the -NH3 of the
occurring amino acid are known, but
zwitterion loses a proton, and a
only 20 of them, called standard
negatively charged species is formed.
amino acids, are normally present in
proteins.
 These 20 Amino acids are the only
amino acids that are coded for by
DNA, the genetic material in the cell.

Zwitterionic Property
 a molecule with functional groups, of
which at least one has a positive and
one has a negative electrical charge.
 the net charge of the entire molecule is
zero. Amino acids are the best-known
examples of zwitterions.
 They contain an amine group (basic)
and a carboxylic group (acidic). The -
NH2 group is the stronger base, and
so it picks up H+ from the -COOH
group to leave a zwitterion.
 The (neutral) zwitterion is the usual
form amino acids exist in solution.
Amphoteric property
 Amino acids are amphoteric in nature
that is they act as both acids and base
since due to the amine and carboxylic
group present.
Classification of Amino Acids based on
Side Chain (R groups)
 There are 20 amino acids. Based on
the nature of their ‘R’ group, they are
classified based on their polarity as:
Classification of Amino Acids based on
Side Chain (R groups)
 Non polar aliphatic amino acids
 Amino acids with Uncharged (neutral)
side chain
 Acidic amino acids
 Amino acids with basic side chain
Classification of Amino Acids based on
Capacity of the Body to Synthesize Them
 Essential Amino acids
 Non-essential amino acids
Essential Amino Acids (Nine)
 Nine amino acids cannot be
synthesized in the body and, therefore,
must be present in the diet in order for
protein synthesis to occur.
 These essential amino acids are
histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine,
methionine, phenylalanine threonine,
tryptophan, and valine.
 Phe, Thr, Val, Met Trp, His, Ile, Lys and
Leu
Non-essential Amino Acids (Eleven)
 These amino acids can be
synthesized in the
 body itself and hence not
necessarily needed to
 be acquired through diet.

 Nonessential amino acids

 include: alanine, arginine,
asparagine,
 aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic

 acid, glutamine, glycine, proline,
serine, and tyrosine.