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ChemistryOrganic Chemistry

Amino Acids Structure: How Amino Acids Form Peptide Chains

Use the amino and carboxyl groups in the generic amino-acid structure to explain peptide bonds and continued chain growth.

Question

The figure represents a generic amino acid, with R denoting a variable carbon-based side chain. Explain how this structure permits amino acids to join into long peptide chains that form proteins.

Generic neutral alpha-amino acid: the alpha carbon bonds to H, R, NH2 and COOH; the carboxyl carbon has C=O and C-OH bonds.

Structural notation: H2N−CH(R)−C(=O)−OH\mathrm{H_2N-CH(R)-C(=O)-OH}. Figure source: OpenStax Biology 2e, Chapter 3, Question 23.

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Evidence boundary

The single question and generic structure are from Biology 2e, Chapter 3, Critical Thinking Question 23. The neutral drawing is a structural convention; free amino acids commonly have ionized amino and carboxyl groups near physiological pH. The equation is a net condensation representation, not a complete cellular translation mechanism. No particular R group or protein sequence is specified.