Aspartate
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Amino Acids
- Serine
- Asparagine
- Alanine
- Valine
- Leucine
- Isoleucine
- Phenylalanine
- Tryptophan
- Methionine
- Proline
- Glycine
- Threonine
- Cysteine
- Tyrosine
- Glutamine
- Aspartate
- Glutamate
- Histidine
- Lysine
- Arginine
Summary
Aspartate, which abbreviates to the 3-letter Asp or 1-letter D, is one of the 20 amino acids that make up proteins in our body. Aspartate’s R-group consists of a carboxylic acid at the end of a short, 1-carbon chain. Due to this carboxyl group, aspartate is a polar, hydrophilic amino acid. The carboxylic acid can also act as a proton donor, making Aspartate an acidic, negatively charged amino acid at physiological pH.
Key Points
- Aspartate
- Also known as Aspartic Acid
- Abbreviations
- Asp, D
- Chemical Structure
- R-group: -CH2-Carboxyl
- Carboxyl
- Contrast vs. Asparagine (which has amide instead of carboxyl)
- “-ate” ending denotes ionic form of carboxylic acid
- 1 bridging methylene carbon (-CH2-)
- Contrast vs. Glutamate (which has 2 bridging carbons)
- Carboxyl
- Polarity
- Polar (water soluble/hydrophilic)
- Acidity/Basicity
- Acidic
- pKa = 4 (rounded)
- Charge at pH 7
- Negative (-)
- Other Information
- Called Aspartic Acid when protonated
