Glycine

Summary

Glycine, which is abbreviated as the 3 letters Gly as well as the single letter G, is one of the 20 amino acids that make up proteins in our body. Glycine’s R-group is a single hydrogen atom, which makes it a non-polar, hydrophobic amino acid. Further, glycine is the only non-chiral amino acid because its alpha carbon is bonded to two identical hydrogens, creating an internal plane of symmetry. Glycine’s small R-group being just a hydrogen allows proteins incorporating it to make very tight turns, giving the polypeptide chain a lot of flexibility to twist and turn.

Key Points

• Glycine
  • Abbreviations
    • Gly, G
  • Chemical Structure
    • 
  • R-group: -H
    • Symmetrical plane around the alpha carbon leads to achirality
    • Small R group also allows for conformational and steric flexibility
  • Polarity
    • Non-polar (lipid soluble/hydrophobic)
  • Charge at pH 7
    • Neutral (0)
  • Other Information 
    • Only non-chiral amino acid
    • Structure can allow for tighter turns in protein structure than other AAs
      • Allows for conformational flexibility