MODULE 2: BIOCHEMISTRY

Amino Acids – building blocks of proteins composed of 20 AA’s.

 Non-polar: C & H
 Polar: O, N, S

A. Non-Polar:
Glycine (gly, G) - Smallest Amino acid
- Inhibitory N.T

Alanine (ala, A) - Alanine transaminase (liver

function test)
Phenylalanine (phe, F) - Disease: Phenylketonuria
- Aromatic: Xanthoproteic Test (+)
yellow color
Valine (val, V) - “Branched-chain AA’s”
Isoleucine (ile, I) - Disease: Maple syrup urine disease
Leucine (leu, L) (Black urine dse.) autosomal
recessive metabolic d/o affecting
BCAA’s.
Methionine (met, M) - Sulfur containg:Fohl’s/Lead
acetate test (+) black ppt.
Tryptophan (trp, W) - Indole-containing: Hopkins-cole
test (+) purple ring
Proline (pro, P) - “Imino Acid”
- Ninhydrine Test (+) yellow for
proline, the rest of the AA’s are
(+) purple.
- Precursor of collagen (also
Lysine).
B. Polar:
Serine (ser, S) - Precursor of choline.

Threonine (thr, T) - Naturally occurring in L-form.

- Promotes normal growth by helping
to maintain the proper protein
balance in the body.
Cysteine (cys, C) - Sulfur containing
- Thiol: Nitropursside test (+) red
- Precursor of Glutathione
Tyrosine (tyr, Y) - Phenolic: Millon’s test (+)
pink/rose
- Precursor of Catecholamines
(NE,E,DA)
Aspargine (asn, N) - Acid form of Aspartic and Glutamic
Glutamine (gln, Q) acid.

C. Acidic:
Aspartic acid (asp, D)
Glutamic acid (glu, E)
- Asparatate Transaminase
- Naturally occurring in L-
form.
- Primary excitatory N.T

D. Basic:
Lysine (lys, K) - Precursor of collagen.

Histidine (his, H) - Precursor of Histamine.

Arginine (arg, R) - Guanidino: Sakaguchi test

(+) red/wine
- Precursor of Nitric Oxide.