Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
There are 20 different amino acids which can combine together in an infinite
number of combinations to form proteins. Three examples of amino
acids are shown below. The R-Group determines how the amino acid
"behaves".
Glycine has one hydrogen in its R-Group which
makes it ambivalent. Leucine has carbons and hydrogens in
its R-Group which makes it non-polar. Lysine has nitrogen and hydrogen in its
R-Goup which makes it polar.
Polypeptides
Polypeptides are formed by condensation
reactions. Ribosomes catalyze the reaction between amino acids.
Once the polypeptide chain (50 - 5000 amino
acids) is formed. The chain is modified to form a unique functioning
protein.
