The Biology Project > Biochemistry > The Chemistry of Amino Acids

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Asparagine N (Asn)

Chemical Properties:     Neutral (Amides of acidic amino acids R-group)	Physical Properties:    Polar (uncharged)
Asparagine is the amide of aspartic acid. The amide group does not carry a formal charge under any biologically relevant pH conditions. The amide is rather easily hydrolyzed, converting asparagine to aspartic acid. This process is thought to be one of the factors related to the molecular basis of aging. Asparagine has a high propensity to hydrogen bond, since the amide group can accept two and donate two hydrogen bonds. It is found on the surface as well as buried within proteins. Asparagine is a common site for attachment of carbohydrates in glycoproteins.

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The Biology Project > Biochemistry > The Chemistry of Amino Acids

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