Properties of Alpha Amino Acids
WEB Properties of Amino Acids
The properties of α-amino acids are complex yet can be understood in terms of their chemical structure. The general structure of an α-amino acid is as follows:
where R is a side chain that varies for each amino acid.
Ionization Constants
Amino acids have three ionizable groups: the amino group, the carboxyl group, and the side chain. The ionization constants for these groups are denoted as pKa, pKb, and pKx, respectively.
- pKa: The negative logarithm of the acid dissociation constant for the amino group.
- pKb: The negative logarithm of the base dissociation constant for the carboxyl group.
- pKx: The negative logarithm of the acid or base dissociation constant for the side chain.
The ionization constants of an amino acid are important because they determine its charge at a given pH. At low pH, the amino group is protonated and the carboxyl group is uncharged, resulting in a net positive charge. At high pH, the amino group is uncharged and the carboxyl group is deprotonated, resulting in a net negative charge. At the isoelectric point (pI), the amino acid has a net charge of zero.
Isoelectric Point
The isoelectric point (pI) of an amino acid is the pH at which it has a net charge of zero. The pI can be calculated using the following equation:
pI = (pKa + pKb) / 2
The pI of an amino acid is important because it affects its solubility and its ability to interact with other molecules.
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