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Ch.18 Amino Acids and Proteins
Chapter 18, Problem 18.15

Valine is an amino acid with a nonpolar side chain, and serine is an amino acid with a polar side chain. Draw the two dipeptides that can be formed by these two amino acids. Identify the peptide bond.

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Identify the structures of valine and serine. Valine has a nonpolar side chain, while serine has a polar side chain with a hydroxyl group (-OH).
Understand that a dipeptide is formed when two amino acids are joined by a peptide bond, which is a covalent bond formed between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another.
Draw the first dipeptide by connecting the carboxyl group of valine to the amino group of serine. This forms a peptide bond, which is typically represented as -CO-NH-.
Draw the second dipeptide by connecting the carboxyl group of serine to the amino group of valine, again forming a peptide bond.
Label the peptide bonds in both dipeptides. These bonds are crucial as they link the amino acids together, forming the backbone of the dipeptide structure.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Amino Acids

Amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins. Each amino acid consists of a central carbon atom, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a distinctive side chain (R group) that determines its properties. Valine, with a nonpolar side chain, is hydrophobic, while serine, with a polar side chain, is hydrophilic, influencing their interactions in proteins.
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Dipeptides

Dipeptides are molecules formed when two amino acids are linked together by a peptide bond. This bond is created through a dehydration synthesis reaction, where a water molecule is released as the carboxyl group of one amino acid reacts with the amino group of another. The resulting dipeptide retains the characteristics of both amino acids, influencing its overall properties and function.
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Peptide Bond

A peptide bond is a covalent bond that links amino acids together in a protein. It forms between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another, resulting in the release of a water molecule. This bond is crucial for the structure and function of proteins, as it determines the sequence and arrangement of amino acids in polypeptides.
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