More pages in this category (in alphabetical order):
Proline
Amino Acids
Amino acids are important biological units that are sometimes called the "building
blocks" of proteins because many amino
acids together form proteins. Proteins form a significant proportion of
the structure
of cells, cells being
the basic functional units of living organisms.
Chemistry of Amino Acids
Amino acids are organic compounds that include both an amino group, and a carboxyl group.
The term "organic
compound"
refers to substances whose molecular structure is based on the
presence and properties of the element carbon, whose chemical symbol is C.
An "amino group" is
a group of atoms arranged in a particular configuration that
includes the elements nitrogen and hydrogen and is represented by
-NH2.
A "carboxyl group" is
a group of atoms arranged in a particular configuration that
includes carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen and is represented by -COOH.
Proline is an amino acid*.
The molecular formula of proline is C5H9NO2
* Note that from a chemical point-of-view, proline differs
from other amino acids because it lacks a primary amine (or "amino")
group (-NH2), see
definition in the right-hand columnlower down this page. Proline is
sometimes called an "imino acid", even though some argue that this
is not strictly correct either because the chemicals called "imines" contain
a carbon-nitrogen double bond, which is not the case for proline. Nevertheless, these considerations
are more important for chemists and biochemistry researchers than to those
with a clinical
interest in the importance of this chemical for the body. Proline is commonly called an amino acid, and as such it is the only cyclic amino
acid. It may also be described as a "non-polar amino acid".
Amino acids generally are explained further in the column on the rightin further detail below. Briefly, there are two types of amino acid:
- Those that can be synthesized by the body itself (non-essential amino acids), and
- those that, although necessary for the healthy growth or maintenance of the body, cannot be produced by the body itself.
This second type of amino acids are called essential amino acids, and are also referred to as indispensible amino acids in some textbooks.
Proline is a "non-essential" or "dispensible" amino
acid because, although its presence in an appropriate quantity is important
for good health, the human body can produce this chemical from an excess
of certain other amino acids in the body. Therefore it is not essential as a part of the diet.
Proline is an important chemical
in many physiological functions including creating collagen and facilitating
the absorption of nutrients in the intestines, which are part of the digestive system.
Amino Acids
Amino acids are important biological units that are sometimes called the "building
blocks" of proteins because many amino
acids together form proteins. Proteins form a significant proportion of
the structure
of cells, cells being
the basic functional units of living organisms.
Chemistry of Amino Acids
Amino acids are organic compounds that include both an amino group, and a carboxyl group.
The term "organic
compound"
refers to substances whose molecular structure is based on the
presence and properties of the element carbon, whose chemical symbol is C.
An "amino group" is
a group of atoms arranged in a particular configuration that
includes the elements nitrogen and hydrogen and is represented by
-NH2.
A "carboxyl group" is
a group of atoms arranged in a particular configuration that
includes carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen and is represented by -COOH.
For further information about amino acids in general, see Amino Acids.
