What are the differences between amino acids and proteins?

Question

Accepted Answer

Basis of differentiation

Amino acids

Proteins

Definition

Are simple organic compounds that are composed of an amino group, a carboxylic group and a varying side chain denoted as R

Are large nitrogenous organic macromolecules composed of amino acid chains

Correlation

Are the building blocks of proteins

Are essentially strings of amino acids

Composition

Are composed of a carboxylic acid group (COOH), an amino  (NH2), and a variable side chain (R)

Are composed of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds

Molecular mass

Have a relatively smaller molecular mass

Are macromolecules and have a larger molecular mass

Synthesis inside the body

Only some of the 20 amino acids can be synthesized inside the body

All the proteins are synthesized inside the body

Role

Play a key role in protein synthesis

Serve as a structural, regulatory, and functional molecule in the body, providing cellular structure, catalyzing metabolic reactions and facilitating DNA replication

Number

Only 20 amino acids are involved in protein synthesis in all living organisms

More than 10 million proteins are produced in biological organisms

Basis of differentiation	Amino acids	Proteins
Definition	Are simple organic compounds that are composed of an amino group, a carboxylic group and a varying side chain denoted as R	Are large nitrogenous organic macromolecules composed of amino acid chains
Correlation	Are the building blocks of proteins	Are essentially strings of amino acids
Composition	Are composed of a carboxylic acid group (COOH), an amino (NH2), and a variable side chain (R)	Are composed of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds
Molecular mass	Have a relatively smaller molecular mass	Are macromolecules and have a larger molecular mass
Synthesis inside the body	Only some of the 20 amino acids can be synthesized inside the body	All the proteins are synthesized inside the body
Role	Play a key role in protein synthesis	Serve as a structural, regulatory, and functional molecule in the body, providing cellular structure, catalyzing metabolic reactions and facilitating DNA replication
Number	Only 20 amino acids are involved in protein synthesis in all living organisms	More than 10 million proteins are produced in biological organisms

Basis of differentiation

Amino acids

Proteins

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