What are the building blocks of proteins?

The building blocks of proteins are amino acids, which are organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur. Each amino acid has a basic structure consisting of a central carbon atom attached to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a variable R group, which determines the specific characteristics of the amino acid.

Amino acids link together through peptide bonds to form polypeptides, which then fold into specific three-dimensional shapes to create functional proteins. The sequence and number of amino acids in a polypeptide determine the structure and function of the resulting protein, making amino acids essential for various biological processes, including enzyme catalysis, cellular signaling, and structural support within organisms.

In contrast, fatty acids are the building blocks of lipids, while simple sugars are the basic units of carbohydrates. Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA. This specific role of amino acids in protein synthesis distinctly identifies them as the primary building blocks for proteins.