Page 4: Isomerism and Condensation Reactions of Amino Acids
This final page discusses the isomerism of aminokwasy aminoacids and further elaborates on their condensation reactions.
Isomerism in amino acids:
Most amino acids exceptglycine contain a chiral center at the α-carbon, leading to two possible configurations: L and D isomers.
Highlight: In proteins, amino acids almost exclusively occur in the L-configuration, which is crucial for their biological function.
Definition: Chirality refers to the property of a molecule that makes it non-superimposable on its mirror image, like left and right hands.
Condensation reactions:
The formation of peptide bonds through condensation reactions is a fundamental process in protein synthesis.
Example: H₂N-CH₂-COOH + H₂N-CH₂-COOH → H₂N-CH₂-CO-NH-CH₂-COOH + H₂O
This reaction occurs between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another, releasing a water molecule.
Vocabulary: Peptide bond - a covalent chemical bond formed between two amino acids in a condensation reaction.
Understanding these concepts is crucial for comprehending protein structure and the mechanisms of protein synthesis in living organisms. The ability of amino acids to form peptide bonds through condensation reactions is the basis for the incredible diversity and functionality of proteins in biological systems.