Aminohappojäämät

Aminohappojäämät refer to the residues of amino acids that remain after they have been incorporated into a polypeptide chain. When amino acids link together to form proteins, a peptide bond is formed between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another. This process releases a molecule of water and leaves behind the amino acid residue, which consists of the alpha-carbon, the side chain (R-group), and the amino and carboxyl groups that are now part of the peptide backbone.

The sequence of these amino acid residues dictates the primary structure of a protein. Each of the twenty common amino acids can contribute a unique residue to a protein chain, and their specific arrangement is crucial for the protein's three-dimensional structure and function. Interactions between these side chains, such as hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and disulfide bridges, are responsible for folding the polypeptide into its functional conformation, known as the tertiary structure. In proteins composed of multiple polypeptide subunits, interactions between these residues also contribute to the quaternary structure. The chemical properties of the amino acid residues, including their charge, polarity, and size, significantly influence the overall behavior and interactions of the protein.