Carbon-nitrogen groups
Amines are most notably involved in primary protein structure, which is the most basic structure of proteins.
- Amino groups (primary amines)
- Quaternary amines
Carbon-Nitrogen Functional Group
common functional groups in biochemistry
These functional groups define common molecules, compounds, and reactions in biochemistry, including biochemical polymers such as proteins, DNA and carbohydrates.
FOUR GROUPS
- Carbon-oxygen groups
- Carbon-nitrogen groups
- Carbon-sulfur groups
- Esters & Amides
Carbon-nitrogen functional groups
We include two types of amines: the simplest and the most complex.
Amino group (the simplest form of amine)
- We draw an R connected to an NH2 group.
- This is also called a primary amine, because it is a nitrogen atom with a single R group attached.
-Amino groups are an important part of amino acid structure and participate in the formation of peptide bonds. Many neurotransmitters, including epinephrine, dopamine, serotonin and histamine are also amines.
-As a clinical correlate, many pharmaceutical drugs and illicit drugs are actually amines that interfere with natural neurotransmitters, such as ephedrine and amphetamine. In addition, amines can be relatively easily converted from one amine to another, and for this reason, Sudafed, which contains pseudoephedrine (one of the key components of the illicit drug "crystal meth") is now a regulated pharmaceutical.
Quaternary amine (the most complex amine)
- We draw a nitrogen with four R groups bound to it.
- We show that the nitrogen atom has a positive charge.
- This type of functional group is called a quaternary ammonium compound because the nitrogen atom has four attachments.
-Quaternary amines are commonly used as antimicrobials.
- Primary amines have one R group and quaternary amines have four.
- Keeping with this convention, secondary amines have two R groups (and one hydrogen atom) and tertiary amines have three R groups (and no hydrogen atoms).