Begin with glycine, which has the simplest R group: a hydrogen atom.
- Draw our general amino acid stick structure with a hydrogen atom as the R group.
- Although hydrogen atoms are not usually shown, we do show this one because it is the R group.
- Indicate that glycine's three and one letter codes are Gly and G.
- Glycine's R-group gives it many possible angles of rotation, which makes it unfavorable in some protein structures.
Amino Acids: Special
SPECIAL CASES
Glycine (Gly, G)
- Has the simplest R group: a hydrogen atom.
- Glycine's fake R-group gives it many possible angles of rotation, which makes it unfavorable in some protein structures.