Which of the following is the simplest amino acid?
Which of the following is the simplest amino acid?
alanine
asparagine
glycine
tyrosine.
Solution
Amino acids are the monomers that make up proteins. Each amino acid has the same fundamental structure, which consists of a central carbon atom, also known as the alpha $(\alpha)$ carbon, bonded to an amino group $\left(\mathrm{NH}_2\right)$, a carboxyl group $(\mathrm{COOH})$, and to a hydrogen atom. Glycine is the simplest of all amino acids as R-group is hydrogen.
