Alexander Snegursky
Institute of Electron Physics, Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, Uzhgorod, Ukraine

Jelena Tamuliene
Vilnius University, Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy, Vilnius, Lithuania

Liudmila G. Romanova
Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Electron Physics, Uzhgorod, Ukraine

Vasyl S. Vukstich
Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Electron Physics, Uzhgorod, Ukraine

Series: Chemistry Research and Applications
BISAC: SCI049000

Amino acids belong to biologically relevant organic substances involved in live organisms. Generally, they include the amine (NH2) and the carboxylic acid (COOH) functional groups. In general, their generic formula looks like H2NCHRCOOH, with R being an organic substituent (a “side-chain”). As seen, their main constituents are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen atoms, however, other elements (say, sulfur) are also found in their side-chains. As of today, dozens of amino acids are classified quite differently. From the structural viewpoint and according to locations of their functional groups, amino acids are commonly classified as the α-, β-, γ- and δ- ones. Being involved in forming proteins, amino acids are the second (after water) largest component of live tissues. Together with proteins, they play a significant role in a number of live organism-related processes, e.g. neurotransmitter transport and biosynthesis.

Amino acids also serve as building blocks of proteins and intermediates in metabolism. The chemical properties of amino acids determine the biological activity of the proteins. The latter do not only catalyze most of the reactions in living cells, but they also control all cellular processes. In addition, proteins contain the necessary information needed to determine the structure and stability of the human body. This is an important field of scientific research, and today is still one of the most important tasks of modern biological and chemical science. (Imprint: Novinka )