Amino Acids: Building Blocks of Proteins

Amino Acids the Building Blocks of Proteins

Our bodies use a dizzying array of proteins – just to stay alive – each and every day. You and I have to make them all. We don’t get proteins – we make them.

We produce approximately 20,000 different fundamental proteins using just 20 amino acids as building blocks.

The blueprint for creating these proteins; our DNA, consists of only four distinct building blocks. It’s astonishing to consider that our DNA, with just four building blocks, encodes the 20,000 genes responsible for producing 20,000 proteins we build from only 20 different amino acids.

It is hard to believe how we can do this but there is some “magic” involved. We and all other living creatures use the magic of there being an almost infinite combination of ways these basic building blocks can be put together. Later articles will delve more deeply into these marvelous processes of nature. For now I will talk a little more about amino acids with the intent of introducing just a little bit of the biochemistry to help inform nutritional choices.

Although there are hundreds of amino acids, we utilize only 20 amino acids for protein synthesis. All these 20 amino acids share the same backbone, composed of nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms bonded together in the same way. This backbone consists of only 9 atoms.

When amino acids (residues) combine to form proteins, this backbone reduces to just 6 atoms as two hydrogen and an oxygen are separated from the backbone (resulting in water as a byproduct).

What sets each of the 20 amino acids apart is the side chain or “R group”. The simplest side chain contains only one hydrogen, while the largest amino acid has a side chain with an array of 21 atoms forming two ring-like structures.

The biochemical characteristics of these side chains differ but can be classified in various ways, such as whether they are attracted to or repelled by water. When hundreds or thousands of amino acids are bonded together the biochemical properties of the side chains change how the amino acid chain bends, folds and determines the overall biological properties of the protein.

For those interested in delving into the biochemistry of amino acids and their side chain properties, you can explore my page “Interesting Stuff about Biochemistry”. The upcoming article in this series will concentrate on a more practical aspect of amino acids: whether they are deemed “essential” or “nonessential” and the implications for our dietary choices.

If you are ready to read that article click here.

Russ Coash, PA-C
healthmatters.fitness