Q
QuestionBiochemistry

Q^12. Proteins are made of amino acids. What elements make up amino acids? Look up the structures of the 20 amino acids in your textbook and list the 5 elements present.
10 months agoReport content

Answer

Full Solution Locked

Sign in to view the complete step-by-step solution and unlock all study resources.

Step 1:
I'll solve this problem step by step:

Step 2:
: Identify the Elements in Amino Acids

To determine the elements that make up amino acids, I'll review the fundamental chemical composition of these biological molecules. The five primary elements found in amino acids are:

Step 3:

Carbon (C)

Step 4:

Hydrogen (H)

Step 5:

Oxygen (O)

Step 6:

Nitrogen (N)

Step 7:

Sulfur (S) Explanation: - Carbon (C) forms the backbone of the amino acid molecule - Hydrogen (H) is present in various functional groups - Oxygen (O) is found in the carboxyl group (-COOH) - Nitrogen (N) is a key component of the amino group (-NH₂) - Sulfur (S) is present in some amino acids like cysteine and methionine

Final Answer

Note: While most amino acids contain these five elements, the specific arrangement and additional functional groups can vary between different amino acids.