1.

The chemistry of amino acid side chains is critical to protein structure because these side
chains can bond with one another to hold a length of protein in a certain shape or
conformation. Charged amino acid side chains can form ionic bonds, and polar amino
acids are capable of forming hydrogen bonds.

2. Each amino acid is identical except for its side chain, or R group. It is the charge, shape,
polarity, and size of a side chain that gives each amino acid its unique biochemical properties.
Amino acid side chains are typically grouped into non-polar, polar, acidic, and basic categories.

3. Amino acids are grouped according to what their side chains are like. The nine amino acids
that have hydrophobic side chains
are glycine (Gly), alanine (Ala),valine (Val), leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile), proline (Pro), phe
nylalanine (Phe),methionine (Met), and tryptophan (Trp)

4.