Figure 1 below shows one of the 20 amino acids that make up proteins. Recall that carbon can form four covalent bonds. Amino acids consist of a central carbon, called the a-carbon, that is bonded to four different chemical groups. CH2 OH Figure 1. Structure of an amino acid Answer the below questions in your own document. • On the amino acid shown in Figure 1, label the a-carbon. The a-carbon of each of the 20 amino acids is bonded to one hydrogen atom, one amino group, one carboxyl group, and one R group (more on that below). You should recognize the amino and carboxyl groups from our discussion of functional groups in organic molecules. Circle and label* the amino group and the carboxyl group in Figure 1. *Note: our goal in this question, and in similar questions throughout this lab, is for you to be able to identify specific structures. You can do this circling/labeling in whatever way is easiest for you. You might want to draw the structures on a piece of paper, or use a computer program (like Powerpoint, Photoshop, Paint, Preview, etc.) to draw on these images. Whatever is easiest for you! • The last bond an a-carbon in an amino acid makes is to an R group.or side- chain. Circle and label the R group in Figure 1.
Nucleotides
It is an organic molecule made up of three basic components- a nitrogenous base, phosphate,and pentose sugar. The nucleotides are important for metabolic reactions andthe formation of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are essential biomolecules present in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and viruses. They carry the genetic information for the synthesis of proteins and cellular replication. The nucleic acids are of two types: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). The structure of all proteins and ultimately every biomolecule and cellular component is a product of information encoded in the sequence of nucleic acids. Parts of a DNA molecule containing the information needed to synthesize a protein or an RNA are genes. Nucleic acids can store and transmit genetic information from one generation to the next, fundamental to any life form.
![Exercise A: Amino Acid Functional Groups
Figure 1 below shows one of the 20 amino acids that make up proteins. Recall that
carbon can form four covalent bonds. Amino acids consist of a central carbon, called
the a-carbon, that is bonded to four different chemical groups.
H
+
CH2
OH
Figure 1. Structure of an amino acid
Answer the below questions in your own document.
• On the amino acid shown in Figure 1, label the a-carbon.
• The a-carbon of each of the 20 amino acids is bonded to one hydrogen
atom, one amino group, one carboxyl group, and one R group (more on
that below). You should recognize the amino and carboxyl groups from our
discussion of functional groups in organic molecules. Circle and label* the
amino group and the carboxyl group in Figure 1.
*Note: our goal in this question, and in similar questions throughout this lab, is for
you to be able to identify specific structures. You can do this circling/labeling in
whatever way is easiest for you. You might want to draw the structures on a piece of
paper, or use a computer program (like Powerpoint, Photoshop, Paint, Preview, etc.)
to draw on these images. Whatever is easiest for you!
• The last bond an a-carbon in an amino acid makes is to an R group.or side-
chain. Circle and label the R group in Figure 1.
The next page of this handout shows the structures of all 20 amino acids (Figure 2).
They are categorized into 4 chemical groups: nonpolar, uncharged polar, acidic, and
basic.
• Using the three groups you identified in Figure 1 as a reference, what is the only
thing that is different about each of the 20 amino acids?
Look at the amino acids in each of the four groups and compare them to the ones in
the other groups. Figure out rules that describe what the members of each group
Screenshot](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F3eeb3e5a-eda3-4be2-a8da-0aed76f38e3a%2F892d6494-1da8-4807-88aa-973097d7731a%2F8e34sn3_processed.png&w=3840&q=75)
![The next page of this handout shows the structures of all 20 amino acids (Figure 2).
They are categorized into 4 chemical groups: nonpolar, uncharged polar, acidic, and
basic.
• Using the three groups you identified in Figure 1 as a reference, what is the only
thing that is different about each of the 20 amino acids?
Look at the amino acids in each of the four groups and compare them to the ones in
the other groups. Figure out rules that describe what the members of each group
have in common so that you will be able to identify the chemical group for each of
the 20 amino acids if you are shown its structure. Record your rules in a table
similar to the one shown below.
Chemical Group
Rules Describing Membership in this Group](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2F3eeb3e5a-eda3-4be2-a8da-0aed76f38e3a%2F892d6494-1da8-4807-88aa-973097d7731a%2F1pm5kuj_processed.png&w=3840&q=75)
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