Amino acids

Amino acids

Amino acids are the simplest units of a protein molecule and they form the building blocks of protein structure. The general formula of an amino acid can be written as,

An amino acid is an amino carboxylic acid. R is the side chain or residue and it represents the group other than -NH₂ and -COOH. It may be a hydrogen atom (H) or a methyl group (-CH₃) or an aliphatic group or an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group. The amino acids are classified based on the nature of R groups.

D and L amino acids

Based on the position of amino group on the asymmetric carbon atom, amino acids exist in two types. They are D and L amino acids

The amino acid having the NH₂ group on the right is called D-amino acid. The amino acid having the NH₂ group on the left is called L-amino acid. These isomers are the mirror images of each other.

All amino acids are α amino acids because the NH₂ group is attached to the a carbon atom which is next to the COOH group. Examination of the structure of an amino acid except glycine, reveals that the α carbon atom has four different groups attached to it, thus making it asymmetric. Because of the presence of asymmetric carbon atom, amino acids exist in two optically active forms, dextrorotatory and levorotatory.

Dextrorotatory, compounds rotate plane polarised light in the clockwise direction. Levorotatory, compounds rotate plane polarised light in the anti clockwise direction. The direction of optical rotation of an amino acids indicated by the symbol + and - (+ indicates dextro and - indicate levo).

It has been found that L-amino acids are more common than D forms and most of the naturally occuring amino acids are L-amino acids. Therefore L-amino acids are called natural aminoacids. Since the L amino acids are more common, the letter “L” is usually omitted, while representing L-amino acids.

Amino acids are widely distributed in plants and animals.