Amino Acid Structure Chart and Reference Table
Amino acids are the backbone of peptides and proteins. All amino acids contain both amino and carboxylic acids, and in certain cases, side chains.
The properties of amino acids are determined by the functional substituents linked on the side chains, which are most commonly referred to as R groups. In the amino acid chart listed here, we describe the 20 standard residues found in nature, along with the universal genetic codes.
Aliphatic Amino Acids with Hydrophobic Side Chain |
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Name
|
3-Letter Symbol
|
1-Letter Symbol
|
Formula
|
Molecular Weight
|
Isoelectric Point
|
Structure
|
Alanine | ALA | A | C3H7N1O2 | 89.09 | 6.00 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Isoleucine | ILE | I | C6H13N1O2 | 131.17 | 5.94 | |
Leucine | LEU | L | C6H13N1O2 | 131.17 | 5.98 | |
Valine | VAL | V | C5H11N1O2 | 117.15 | 5.96 |
Aromatic Amino Acids with Hydrophobic Side Chain |
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Name
|
3-Letter Symbol
|
1-Letter Symbol
|
Formula
|
Molecular Weight
|
Isoelectric Point
|
Structure
|
Phenylalanine | PHE | F | C9H11N1O2 | 165.19 | 5.48 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tryptophan | TRP | W | C11H12N2O2 | 204.23 | 5.89 | |
Tyrosine | TYR | Y | C9H11N1O3 | 181.19 | 5.66 |
Amino Acids with Neutral Side Chain |
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Name
|
3-Letter Symbol
|
1-Letter Symbol
|
Formula
|
Molecular Weight
|
Isoelectric Point
|
Structure
|
Asparagine | ASN | N | C4H8N2O3 | 132.12 | 5.41 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cysteine | CYS | C | C3H7N1O2S1 | 121.16 | 5.02 | |
Glutamine | GLN | Q | C5H10N2O3 | 146.15 | 5.65 | |
Methionine | MET | M | C5H11N1O2S1 | 149.21 | 5.74 | |
Serine | SER | S | C3H7N1O3 | 105.09 | 5.68 | |
Threonine | THR | T | C4H9N1O3 | 119.12 | 5.64 |
Amino Acids with Positive Charged Side Chain |
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Name
|
3-Letter Symbol
|
1-Letter Symbol
|
Formula
|
Molecular Weight
|
Isoelectric Point
|
Structure
|
Arginine | ARG | R | C6H14N4O2 | 174.2 | 11.15 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Histidine | HIS | H | C6H9N3O2 | 155.16 | 7.47 | |
Lysine | LYS | K | C6H14N2O2 | 146.19 | 9.59 |