Molecular Structure of Amino Acids
Schatzi Sovich
Ventura High School
July 2005
Introduction: This activity is designed to introduce amino acids. Students will use internet
websites to read and answer questions, and use molecular visualization sites
to analyze amino acids in a three dimensional manner. To view the 3-D image
your Netscape browser must have the Chemscape Chime Plugin.
Purpose: To cover California Science Standards for Biology/Life Science sections:
http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/scmain.asp
Cell Biology 1 d,e,h
Genetics
4 a-f, 5a-b
Grade Level: Chemistry, Biology, Physiology Grades 10-12
Procedure:
1. Go to http://www.chem4kids.com/
2. Click on Biochemistry: Read the text and answer question #1.
3. Click on Amino Acid Structure. Read the text and answer questions #2-8.
4. Scroll back up and click on Essential Amino Acids. Click on each of the amino acids
and begin the amino acid table.
5. Go to http://iws.ohiolink.edu/chemistry/biochemistry/aatut.html to analyze the amino
acid molecules and complete the amino acid table.
Gray = Carbon
White = Hydrogen
Red = Oxygen
Blue = Nitrogen
Sulfur = Yellow
6. Go to Amino Acid ID Quiz
http://www.bio.cmu.edu/Courses/BiochemMols/aaIDCQz/aaQCMain.htm
7. Take the quiz and write your results on question #10.
Questions:
1. What is biochemistry?
2. What is an amino acid?
3. How many amino acids are there?
4. Name some uses of proteins?
5. Draw the amino acid in the yellow box. Circle the carboxyl group and the amino
group and the side group.
6. Why is the carboxyl group negatively charged and the amine group positively
charged?
7. What are the side groups and why are they important?
8. Name and describe three types of side groups.
Amino Acids
Animo Acid
Alanine
Arginine
Asparagine
Aspartic Acid
Cysteine
Glutamic Acid
Glutamine
Glycine
Histidine
Isoleucine
Leucine
Lysine
Methionine
Phenylalanine
Symbol
Structural Formula
Type
% in
Proteins
Proline
Serine
Threonine
Tryptophan
Tyrosine
Valine
#10 Quiz: (Name the Amino Acid)
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Useful Websites:
Amino Acid ID Quiz: http://www.bio.cmu.edu/Courses/BiochemMols/aaIDCQz/aaQCMain.htm
Amino Acid Structures: http://www.clunet.edu/BioDev/omm/aa/aa.htm
Amino Acid Tutorial: http://iws.ohiolink.edu/chemistry/biochemistry/aatut.html
Chemistry for Kids: http://www.chem4kids.com/map.html
California Science Standards: http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/scmain.asp
Chemistry Molecular Models: http://www.uwsp.edu/chemistry/pdbs/#AMINO%20ACIDS
DNA structure: http://molvis.sdsc.edu/dna/index.htm
DNA from the beginnings: http://www.dnaftb.org/dnaftb/
DNA structure: http://molvis.sdsc.edu/dna/index.htm
Exploring DNA: http://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/DNA/index.html
Hemoglobin Tutorial: http://www.umass.edu/microbio/chime/hemoglob/2frmcont.htm
***Molecular Biology Notebook:
http://www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk/notebook/courses/guide/prot.htm
Molecular Models for Biochemistry:
http://info.bio.cmu.edu/Courses/BiochemMols/BCMolecules.html
Molecular Visualization: http://www.clunet.edu/BioDev/marcey/assi/molvis_05.htm
Molecular Visualization Resources: http://www.umass.edu/microbio/chime/
Molecules: http://www.molecules.org/
Protein Data Bank: http://rutgers.rcsb.org/pdb/
Protein structure & diversity:
http://www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk/notebook/courses/guide/prot.htm
Protein Synthesis Tutorial: http://www.massey.ac.nz/~wwbioch/Prot/tutehome/tutepage.htm
Review of Amino Acids: http://wbiomed.curtin.edu.au/teach/biochem/tutorials/AAs/AA.html
Science Odyssey: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/
Side by Side Amino Acid Viewer:
http://info.bio.cmu.edu/Courses/BiochemMols/AAViewer/AAVFrameset.htm