Amino Acids

• What are amino acids?

  The monomers from which proteins are made.
• What is the general structure of an amino acid?

  A central carbon atom with an amine group, carboxyl group, hydrogen atom, and a side chain (R group).
• How many different amino acids are there?

  20
• Where do all amino acids differ?

  In there side chains.
• What does a condensation reaction between two amino acids form?

  A peptide bond.
• How are dipeptides formed?

  By the condensation of two amino acids.
• How are polypeptides formed?

  By the condensation of many amino acids.
• What does the sequence of amino acids within a protein determine?

  The proteins shape and function.
• Where on the amino acid is a peptide bond formed and why?

  Between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another amino acid as the hydroxyl on the carboxyl group and hydrogen on the amine group form a water molecule.
• What does the hydrolysis of a polypeptide do?

  It breaks the peptide bonds to release its amino acids.
• What bond is a peptide bond?

  A covalent bond.