AMINO ACIDS
Amino acids are the monomers from which proteins are made. The general
structure of an amino acid as:
where NH2 represents an amine group, COOH represents a carboxyl group
and R represents a carbon-containing side chain.
The twenty amino acids that are common in all organisms differ only in their
side group.
Amino acids



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYmCGMQkCb0
During the clip, try and name some
of the Amino acids they mention –
competition for the most got!
Amino acids are the monomers that
make up proteins. All Proteins (also
called polypeptides) are made up
from the 20 different amino acids.
Outcomes:
- Name the
monomers that
polymerise to form
proteins
- Describe the
chemical groups of
an amino acid
- Name and draw
some different
amino acids with the
R groups.
- Explain how peptide
bonds are formed
and broken between
amino acids to
form/break
dipeptides.
- Use structural
formula to show
condensation and
hydrolysis reactions
of amino acids.
Amino acid structure



All amino acids have this structure.
The R group (side chain) differs for
each amino acid.
Task: Draw this and find the side
groups of 3 amino acids and draw
and label these too.
Outcomes:
- Name the monomers
that polymerise to
form proteins
- Describe the
chemical groups of
an amino acid
- Name and draw
some different
amino acids with
the R groups.
- Explain how peptide
bonds are formed
and broken between
amino acids to
form/break
dipeptides.
- Use structural
formula to show
condensation and
hydrolysis reactions
of amino acids.
There are 20 amino acids, how
many proteins are there?



Proteins (polypeptides) are made
of large amounts of amino acids
joined up together in a specific
order.
Because of this you can make
millions of different proteins just
using the 20 different amino acids.
Task: How many polypeptides can
you make from just 3 amino acids.
Outcomes:
- Name the monomers
that polymerise to
form proteins
- Describe the
chemical groups of
an amino acid
- Name and draw
some different
amino acids with the
R groups.
- Explain how peptide
bonds are formed
and broken between
amino acids to
form/break
dipeptides.
- Use structural
formula to show
condensation and
hydrolysis reactions
of amino acids.
Alanine
Glycine
Alanine
Glycine
Alanine
Glycine
Alanine
Glycine
Leucine
Leucine
Leucine
Leucine
Forming
– joining
 FormingDipeptides
polypeptides
(making
proteins):
amino
acids

Breaking down polypeptides
(making amino acids):
Outcomes:
- Name the monomers
that polymerise to
form proteins
- Describe the
chemical groups of
an amino acid
- Name and draw
some different
amino acids with the
R groups.
- Explain how peptide
bonds are formed
and broken
between amino
acids to
form/break
dipeptides.
- Use structural
formula to show
condensation and
hydrolysis
reactions of amino
acids.
The Peptide bond
Q: What was the bond between two
monosaccharides called?
Q: What do you think the bond
between two amino acids will be
called?
Outcomes:
- Name the monomers
that polymerise to
form proteins
- Describe the
chemical groups of
an amino acid
- Name and draw
some different
amino acids with the
R groups.
- Explain how peptide
bonds are formed
and broken between
amino acids to
form/break
dipeptides.
- Use structural
formula to show
condensation and
hydrolysis reactions
of amino acids.
HW: Testing for Amino
Acids




Research how to identify amino
acids/separate a solution of amino
acids using Thin Layer
Chromatography paper.
In your Lab books: Title: Testing for
Amino acids in an unknown solution.
Write an aim, equipment list,
method and risk assessment.
Next lesson we are going to do this!
Outcomes:
- Name the monomers
that polymerise to
form proteins
- Describe the
chemical groups of
an amino acid
- Name and draw
some different
amino acids with the
R groups.
- Explain how peptide
bonds are formed
and broken between
amino acids to
form/break
dipeptides.
- Use structural
formula to show
condensation and
hydrolysis reactions
of amino acids.