Side chain

Side Chain

A side chain in organic chemistry and biochemistry is an open chain of atoms that is attached to the main chain (or sometimes the main cycle) of a molecule. The side chain is a part of the molecule that is not part of its main structure, or backbone. In proteins, the side chain is attached to the alpha carbon atom of the amino acid.

Chemistry

In organic chemistry, a side chain is a chemical group that is attached to a core part of the molecule. The core part of the molecule, together with the side chain, forms the complete molecule. The side chain can be made up of any collection of atoms and can be of any length, including being a single atom.

Biochemistry

In biochemistry, a side chain is a group of atoms attached to the main chain of a molecule, particularly in the context of proteins where the side chain is attached to the alpha carbon atom of the amino acid. The side chains of the 20 standard amino acids are a key determinant of the properties of a protein.

Proteins

In proteins, the side chains are attached to the alpha carbon atoms of the amino acids. These side chains give the proteins their unique properties, which determine their biological role. The side chains can be as simple as a single hydrogen atom, as in glycine, or as complex as the indole group in tryptophan.

See Also

• Amino Acid
• Protein Structure
• Organic Chemistry
• Biochemistry

References

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  Amino Acids Table