Answer to Question #61288 in Molecular Biology for lolo

Question

Which of the following is false regarding amino acids?

a)they are inorganic molecules
b)they typically have enantiomeric forms
c)they are the monomeric subunits of polypeptides
d)they are amines

Answer 1

Amino acids are organic compounds that simultaneously containing an amino (-NH2) and carboxyl (-COOH) group. Amino acids are the monomeric units of proteins which include amino acid residues joined by peptide bonds.
The alpha-carbon atom forms covalent bonds with four different groups: carboxyl, amino group, side chain and a hydrogen atom, in all standard amino acids (except glycine). So, this atom is a chiral center. Thus, two optical formed of isomers that are mirror images of each other. They do not differ in chemical properties but rotate the plane of polarized light in different directions. These isomers are called enantiomers.

Answer: a) they are inorganic molecules