Textbook Question
How does the polarity of the R group in leucine compare to the R group in serine?
Ch.16 Amino Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes
Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Chemistry in Our Lives11
- Ch.2 Chemistry and Measurements80
- Ch.3 Matter and Energy54
- Ch.4 Atoms and Elements51
- Ch.5 Nuclear Chemistry42
- Ch.6 Ionic and Molecular Compounds57
- Ch.7 Chemical Quantities and Reactions41
- Ch.8 Gases29
- Ch.9 Solutions51
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases and Equilibrium65
- Ch.11 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons78
- Ch.12 Alcohols, Thiols, Ethers, Aldehydes, and Ketones83
- Ch.13 Carbohydrates54
- Ch.14 Carboxylic Acids, Esters, Amines, and Amides90
- Ch.15 Lipids61
- Ch.16 Amino Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes84
- Ch.17 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis83
- Ch.18 Metabolic Pathways and ATP Production67
Timberlake13th EditionChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134421353Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 16, Problem 9d
Give the name for the amino acid represented by each of the following abbreviations:
d. Cys
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand that the question is asking for the full name of the amino acid represented by the abbreviation 'Cys'.
Step 2: Recall that amino acids are commonly represented by three-letter abbreviations, and each abbreviation corresponds to a specific amino acid.
Step 3: Identify 'Cys' as the three-letter abbreviation for the amino acid cysteine.
Step 4: Note that cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid with the chemical formula \( \text{C}_3\text{H}_7\text{NO}_2\text{S} \). It contains a thiol (-SH) group in its side chain, which is important for forming disulfide bonds in proteins.
Step 5: Conclude that the full name of the amino acid represented by 'Cys' is cysteine.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Amino Acids
Amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins. They contain an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a unique side chain (R group) that determines their properties. There are 20 standard amino acids, each with a specific three-letter abbreviation and one-letter code, which are essential for various biological functions.
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Amino Acid Catabolism: Amino Group Example 2
Cysteine
Cysteine is a sulfur-containing amino acid represented by the abbreviation 'Cys'. It plays a crucial role in protein structure and function due to its ability to form disulfide bonds, which stabilize protein conformation. Cysteine is also involved in various metabolic processes and is important for the synthesis of glutathione, an antioxidant.
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Amino Acid Abbreviations
Amino acid abbreviations are shorthand notations used to represent amino acids in scientific literature. Each amino acid has a unique three-letter abbreviation (like 'Cys' for cysteine) and a one-letter code (like 'C'). Understanding these abbreviations is essential for interpreting protein sequences and structures in biochemistry and molecular biology.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Draw the structure for each of the following amino acids at physiological pH:
a. lysine
Textbook Question
Classify each of the amino acids in problem 16.5 as polar or nonpolar. If polar, indicate if the R group is neutral, acidic, or basic. Indicate if each is hydrophobic or hydrophilic.
Textbook Question
Give the name for the amino acid represented by each of the following abbreviations:
d. G
Textbook Question
Draw the condensed structural formula for each of the following peptides, and give its three-letter and one-letter abbreviations:
a. alanylcysteine
Textbook Question
Draw the condensed structural formula for each of the following peptides, and give its three-letter and one-letter abbreviations:
c. glycylalanylvaline