The correct sulfur-containing amino acid among the options provided is:
1. Cystine
Explanation:
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and they are characterized by
the presence of an amino group (-NH2) and a carboxyl group (-COOH). Some amino
acids also contain a side chain that is unique to each amino acid and determines
its chemical properties. Sulfur is an important element in the structure and
function of certain amino acids.
Cystine is a sulfur-containing amino acid, which is formed by the oxidation of
two cysteine molecules. Cysteine is the amino acid that contains a sulfur atom
in its side chain as a thiol group (-SH). When two cysteine residues are
adjacent in a polypeptide chain and the thiol groups react with each other, they
form a disulfide bond (-S-S-), resulting in the formation of cystine. This
disulfide bond is crucial for the tertiary structure of proteins, contributing
to their stability and function, particularly in the context of protein folding
and maintaining the integrity of protein domains.
The other options listed are not sulfur-containing amino acids:
2. Proline is an imino acid, meaning it contains an -NH group instead of an -NH2
group. Its side chain is a cyclic secondary amine and does not contain sulfur.
3. Arginine is a basic amino acid with a guanidino group in its side chain,
which is composed of nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen atoms but no sulfur.
4. Isoleucine is a branched-chain amino acid, with a methyl group and an
isobutyl group on its side chain. It is a hydrophobic amino acid and does not
contain sulfur.
