An amino acid must have both an amine group (-NH2) and a carboxyl group (-COOH) in order to be incorporated into a polypeptide. These groups participate in forming peptide bonds through a condensation reaction, linking amino acids together into a polypeptide chain
. More specifically:
- The amino group of one amino acid reacts with the carboxyl group of another amino acid to form a peptide bond, releasing water as a byproduct
- The amino acid must be capable of attaching to a transfer RNA (tRNA) molecule to be delivered to the ribosome during protein synthesis. The amino acid linked to tRNA is called aminoacyl-tRNA, which is essential for incorporation into the growing polypeptide chain
- Each amino acid has a distinct side chain that influences its physical properties, but the backbone structure with the amine and carboxyl groups is necessary for peptide bond formation
In summary, the key properties an amino acid must have to be incorporated into a polypeptide are:
- An amine group (-NH2)
- A carboxyl group (-COOH)
- The ability to be attached to tRNA (forming aminoacyl-tRNA) for ribosomal incorporation
These features enable amino acids to link covalently via peptide bonds into polypeptide chains during protein synthesis
