Amino Acids - Glycine And Alanine Essential Building Blocks Of Proteins For Biological Function

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.

Following are some details about Amino Acids concentrating on the 2 biologically significant Amino Acids. Let us glance into few details at their simple physical properties such as solubility and melting points.

What are amino acids?
Aminoethanoic acid glycine & alanineStructures and names
Amino acids are compounds containing amino group -NH2 and a carboxylic acid group -COOH.
The biologically significant Amino Acids have the amino group attached to the carbon atom next door to the -COOH group. They are identified as 2-amino acids also known (slightly confusingly) as alpha-amino acids.

2-Aminoethanoic Acid and 2-Aminopropanoic Acid are two simplest amino acids

Due to the biological importance of molecules like these they are in general known by their traditional biochemical names.

2-aminoethanoic acid for example is usually called glycine and 2-aminopropanoic acid is usually known as alanine.
The general formula for a 2-amino acid is:

. . . Where "R" can be quite a complicated group containing other active groups like -OH -SH other amine or carboxylic acid groups and so on. It is definitely NOT necessarily a simple hydrocarbon group!