Amino acids contain both an amine (amino) group and a carboxylic acid (carboxyl) group. When both of these are attached to the same carbon atom, the are called alpha (α) amino acids. Naturally occurring proteins are polymers of α-amino acids. A list of the naturally occurring amino acids [local] is available. Note that three-letter and one-letter abbreviations are available. (Glycine is gly or g.)

An interesting Venn diagram approach to summarizing the properties [local] of the amino acids. Scales of hydrophobic character [local] of the amino acids have been developed. The structural bioinformatics group is interested in the relationships between protein structure, function and evolution.

Principles of Protein Structure [local] using the Internet is a course with a great deal of extremely useful information.