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    Aisha_18's Avatar
    Aisha_18 Posts: 13, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Mar 8, 2009, 10:26 AM
    Amino Acid -Glycine
    Why is the amino acid glycine non polar?
    Perito's Avatar
    Perito Posts: 3,139, Reputation: 150
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    #2

    Mar 8, 2009, 12:59 PM

    I'm guessing a bit here.

    I believe they're talking about the side chains of the amino acids when they rate them as polar or non-polar. Since glycine has no side chains:

    NH2 - CH2 - COOH

    It is classified as non-polar.

    I think there is actually some polarity but the electronegativity of the nitrogen counteracts some of the electronegativity of the oxygens and you're left with a "fairly non-polar" molecule (how's that for dodging the question?).

    This probably isn't the answer you hoped for. Maybe some other genius can shed more light on this.
    templelane's Avatar
    templelane Posts: 1,177, Reputation: 227
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    #3

    Mar 8, 2009, 01:22 PM

    Perito your right.

    Glycine isn't non polar when considred as a single molecule, however it is callsed as a non polar amino acid when considering it's inclusion in a polypeptide or protein structure. This is indeed because of it's lack of side chain.

    See this venn diagram for the amino acids classifications according to side chains:

    http://apodtele.googlepages.com/aa_venn_diagram.jpg

    This is very useful information when trying to understand protein structure and function.

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