Question
1. Draw the simple structure of a generic AA (or name the groups).
2. What is an essential AA?
3. How is this different than a conditionally essential AA?
4. How are amino acids linked together?
5. What groups of the A are linked together?
6. When a protein is denatured, what is being destroyed or altered?
1. Why is this important?
7. What can cause a protein to denature?
Answer
1. Amino acids have a central carbon atom (alpha carbon) bonded to an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), a hydrogen atom, and a side chain (R group).
2. Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from the diet.
3. Conditionally essential amino acids are normally non-essential but become essential under certain conditions, such as during periods of growth or illness.
4. Amino acids are linked together by peptide bonds.
5. The amino group of one amino acid is linked to the carboxyl group of another amino acid.
6. When a protein is denatured, its three-dimensional structure is destroyed or altered, leading to loss of function.
7. Proteins can be denatured by changes in temperature, pH, or exposure to chemicals or radiation.