Neutral
Non-Polar Amino Acids
Because water is a
polar solvent, and like dissolves like, these non-polar
amino acids are hydrophobic,
and occur more commonly in the interior of proteins or in
contact with non-polar membranes.
Compared with other
amino acids, Proline (P) has an unusual
structure in which the side chain is linked back to the amino
terminus. This produces a bent "Proline Corner" that distorts
the alpha helix of the protein.