Aminohappotähteet

Aminohappotähteet, often translated as amino acid residues, refer to the units that make up a protein chain. When amino acids link together through peptide bonds to form a polypeptide, they are no longer referred to as individual amino acids but as amino acid residues. This terminology highlights that a water molecule is released during the formation of each peptide bond, so the amino acid loses a hydrogen atom from its amino group and a hydroxyl group from its carboxyl group when it becomes part of the protein backbone.

The sequence of amino acid residues in a protein dictates its three-dimensional structure and ultimately its function. Each of the twenty common amino acids has a unique side chain, also called an R-group, which imparts specific chemical properties to that residue. These properties, such as polarity, charge, and size, influence how the protein folds and interacts with other molecules. Variations in the amino acid residue sequence, even a single substitution, can lead to significant changes in protein structure and activity, sometimes resulting in disease. Studying the pattern and types of amino acid residues within a protein is crucial for understanding its biological role and for developing targeted therapies.