Titration of Amino Acids and Peptides

Abigail Loren D. Briones

Bachelor of Science in Biology Major in Human Biology
College of Science and Computer Studies
De La Salle University Dasmarias
Dasmarias, Cavite, Philippines
ABSTRACT
The experiment demonstrated the pH behavior of amino acids. This activity aimed
to identify an unknown amino acid through plotting of titration curve. The acid-base
behavior of amino acids demonstrate their role and capacity biologically. 0.20 g of
unknown amino acid sample was added to 25.0 mL of distilled water. Increments of
0.200 M HCl in 0.400 mL were added until the solution reached the pH of 1.5. Then,
0.400 increments of 0.200 M NaOH were added until pH 11.5 was attained. Titration
curve was plotted using the data gathered and it was inferred that the unknown
amino acid is _______. It was determined through the comparison of the
experimental pKa and pI to the standard table of pKa and pI of the amino acids.
INTRODUCTION
All proteins consist of large molecules which are made of amino acids. Amino acids
are monomeric units of proteins and peptides (Jakubke and Sewald 2008). A large
proportion of our cells, muscles and tissue is made up of amino acids, as they carry
out many important bodily functions, such as giving cells their structure. They also
play a key role in the transport and the storage of nutrients. Amino acids have roles
on the function of organs, glands, tendons and arteries. They are essential in wound
healing and tissue repair, especially in the muscles, bones, skin and hair as well as
aids in the removal of all kinds of waste deposits produced in relation to
metabolism. The amino acids in any protein are linked together in chains, called
peptide linkages. The various proteins are made of different amino acids linked
together in different chains. Because there are many different amino acids, there
are many different possible configurations, so there are many different proteins.
During digestion proteins break down to form amino acids much as complex
carbohydrates such as starches break down into simple monosaccharides and fats
break down into fatty acids. In the stomach and intestines various proteolytic
enzymes hydrolyse the protein, releasing amino acids and peptides.
Amino acids generally contain an amino group, -NH2 on the leftmost terminal and a
carboxylic acid group, -COOH in the rightmost terminal (Morris [mod 2007]). The R
group is varying according to the type of aminoa acid (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Amino Acid Formal Structure

Morris C, editor. [modified 2007 August]. An introduction to amino acids [Internet].
[cited 2015 July 18]. Available from:
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/aminoacids/background.html.

Clark, Jim (August 2007). "an introduction to amino acids". chemguide. Retrieved
2015-07-04.
Jakubke H-D and Sewald N. Amino Acids. In: Peptides from a-z. Darmstadt,
Germany. Wiley-VCH; c2008. p. 20-21.

The amino acids (2-aminocarboxylic acids) fulfill various functions in the organism.
Above all, they serve as the components of peptides and proteins. Only the 20
proteinogenic amino acids are included in the genetic code and therefore regularly
found in proteins. Some of these amino acids undergo further (post-translational)
change following their incorporation into proteins. Amino acids or their derivatives
are also form components of lipidse. g., serine in phospholipids and glycine in bile
salts. Several amino acids function as neurotransmitters themselves, while others
are precursors of neurotransmitters, mediators, or hormones. Amino acids are
important (and sometimes essential) components of food. Specific amino acids form
precursors for other metabolitese. g., for glucose in gluconeogenesis, for purine
and pyrimidine bases, for heme, and for other molecules. Several nonproteinogenic
amino acids function as intermediates in the synthesis and breakdown of
proteinogenic amino acids and in the urea cycle. (2) Figure 1 Common amino acids
have the general structure depicted in Figure 1. They contain in common a central
alpha (a)-carbon atom to which a carboxylic acid group, an amino group, and a
hydrogen atom are covalently bonded. In addition, the a-carbon atom is bound to a
specific chemical group, designated R and called the side chain that uniquely
defines each of the 20 common amino acids. Figure 1 depicts the ionized form of a
common amino acid in solution at pH 7. The a-amino group is protonated and in its
ammonium ion form; the carboxylic acid group is in its unprotonated or carboxylate
ion form.