Chirality in amino acids is pivotal for their function in biological systems. These molecules exist as L and D enantiomers, with L-amino acids being predominant in proteins and D-amino acids playing specialized roles in bacterial cell walls and as neuromodulators. Understanding their structure through Fischer projections is crucial for grasping their interactions and applications in fields like pharmacology.
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Amino acids are composed of a central alpha carbon atom bonded to four different substituents, including a hydrogen atom, an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a distinctive side chain
R Groups
The diverse R groups of amino acids are responsible for their wide range of structures and specific properties
Amino acids are essential components of proteins and play crucial roles in biological functions such as tissue repair, nutrient absorption, and organismal growth
Chirality refers to the property of molecules having two mirror-image forms, which is critical in biochemistry as it influences interactions with other molecules
Representation
Fischer projections are a method used to represent the three-dimensional structure of amino acids in a two-dimensional format
Identification
The configuration of an amino acid can be determined by the position of the \(NH_2\) group in relation to the central carbon atom in a Fischer projection
L and D amino acids are enantiomers with distinct physical, chemical, and biological properties, with the L form being predominant in proteins and the D form having specialized roles in bacterial physiology and pharmacology
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Fischer projections vertical groups
Amino (NH2) and carboxyl (COOH) groups are vertical.
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Fischer projections horizontal components
Side chain (R) and hydrogen atom are horizontal.
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Fischer projections L vs D configuration
NH2 on left is L configuration, on right is D configuration.
