PROTEINS :: PART 1

     AMINO ACIDS

·     

                         Proteins are complex organic compounds found in all living     organisms.

      

       These are essential for cell structure and function.     

       Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.

       
         Amino acids have amine (-NH2) and carboxylic acid (-COOH) functional groups and have an R (a side chain hydrocarbon).

               

            Change in the R group changes the amino acid.

       
         There are only 20 amino acids which form billions of proteins.

       
         The centre carbon atom in amino acid is called the alpha-carbon.

                 

       Amino acids are colourless and crystalline with high melting point.