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Basic Structure of an Amino Acid

Basic StructureBasic structue of an amino acids: alpha carbon, alpha hydrogen, alpha carboxyl group, alpha amino group and R-group

All amino acids found in proteins have this basic structure, differing only in the structure of the R-group or the side chain..

The simplest, and smallest, amino acid found in proteins is glycine for which the R-group is a hydrogen (H).

L-isomer
In proteins, only the L-isomer is found normally.

As you travel onward (from the carbonyl carbon to the amino group), the R group of L-amino acids will be on the left as shown in the molecular graphic on the right
basic structure of amino acid demonstrating that the R group of L-amino acids is on the left

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The Biology Project > Biochemistry > The Chemistry of Amino Acids

The Biology Project
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics
University of Arizona
August 25, 2003
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