Chapter 27: Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins

Summary

• Amino acids contain at least an amine and carboxylic acid functional group
• Amino acids can be joined via amide bonds to give peptides
• Proteins are polypeptides of 50 or more amino acids
• Proteins are a fundamental biological component for skin, hair, muscles, connective tissues, many enzymes etc.

Amino Acids

• Amino acids
• Structures and Classifications of α-Amino acids
• Structure and pK_a
• Isoelectronic Point, pI
• Stereochemistry
• Synthesis
• Reactions
• Sample problems

Peptides and Proteins

• Terminology and Conventions
• The Amide Bond : structure and reactivity
• The Disulfide Bond
• Hydrogen Bonding
• Sequencing peptides : hydrolysis reactions
• Protein Structure :  primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary, α-helices and β-sheets
• Peptide synthesis
• Sample problems

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© Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry