Classification based on polarity

Amino acid is classified based on those with non-polar R group, uncharged polar R group, charged polar R group. The non-polar side chain amino acids are called hydrophobic and the amino acid with uncharged polar side chain is called hydrophylic It also contains the acid side chains and basic side chains.

Non Polar Amino Acids

Non Polar Amino Acids have equal number of amino and carboxyl groups and are neutral. These amino acids are hydrophobic and have no charge on the 'R' group. The amino acids in this group are alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenyl alanine, glycine, tryptophan, methionine and proline.

 

Polar Amino Acids with Positive Charge

 

Polar amino acids with positive charge have more amino groups as compared to carboxyl groups making it basic. The amino acids which have positive charge on the 'R' group are placed in this category. They are lysine, arginine and histidine.

Polar Amino Acids with no Charge

These amino acids do not have any charge on the 'R' group. These amino acids participate in hydrogen bonding of protein structure. The amino acids in this group are - serine, threonine, tyrosine, cysteine, glutamine and aspargine.

 

Polar Amino Acids with Negative Charge

Polar amino acids with negative charge have more carboxyl groups than amino groups making them acidic. The amino acids which have a negative charge on the 'R' group are placed in this category. They are called dicarboxylic mono-amino acids. They are aspartic acid and glutamic acid.

Essential Amino Acids

An essential amino acid, or indispensable amino acid, is an amino acid that cannot be synthesized de novo (from scratch) by the organism, and thus must be supplied in its diet. The nine amino acids humans cannot synthesize are phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, and histidine.

There are 9 " essential" amino acids and they are called " essential" because our bodies can't produce them, so it's essential that we include them in our daily diet.

The nine essential amino acids are histidine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, methionine, and lysine.

Why are amino acids important? Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, which is a very important element for nearly all physiological functions. Most skeletal tissues, cells, organs, and muscles are made of amino acids. They help make the proteins that allow our bodies to grow, repair tissue, break down food, and perform many other essential biological processes.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) have a branched molecular structure. There are three of them: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Like other essential amino acids, they are building blocks of proteins and muscles. They also help regulate blood sugar levels. BCAAs also help reduce fatigue during exercise.

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