Amino acids summary

Amino acids are the primary building blocks of all proteins. They polymerize with one another via a dehydration reaction and form a polypeptide chain, known as the primary structure of a protein. Each amino acid is comprised of a central alpha carbon with a hydrogen, an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a variable R-group that makes them unique. The amino end is referred to as the N-terminus, and the carboxyl end Is referred to as the C-terminus. A total of twenty common amino acids exist within our bodies and they are sorted into different groups based on their chemical properties. For example, polar amino acids are considered to be hydrophilic (water loving) because their R-groups will interact with other polar molecules, including water. These aforementioned properties of amino acids dictate how the primary structure will fold in an aqueous environment. Proteins cannot exist without amino acids, as they are fundamental components of life itself.