What are amino acids? How can an amino acid act as buffer
1 Answer
Amino acids are the monomers that make up proteins.
A protein is made up of one or more linear chains of amino acids, each of which is called a polypeptide.
Explanation:
Amino acids can be described as the building blocks of proteins, each with a different shape, size, and function.
Amino acids are important in a number of ways. Not only are they essential for the synthesis of proteins but they are also responsible for your enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters, metabolic pathways, mental stabilization, and just about every function that takes place within the human body.
This is because protein too plays a crucial role in almost all biological processes (not just getting bigger muscles) and amino acids are the building blocks of it all.
An amino acid can act as a buffer due to the fact it can react with acids and bases to keep the pH constant.
A good example of this would be the protein hemoglobin. It can bind to small amounts of acid in the blood, helping to remove that acid before it changes the blood's pH thus making it an excellent buffer.
