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→α-amino acids: expand section on amino acids in biology
== α-amino acids ==
== α-amino acids ==
'''α-amino acids''' (α is the Greek letter ''[[alpha]]'') have the general formula '''RCH(NH<sub>2</sub>)COOH'''. There are around 20 naturally occurring α-amino acids which [[polymer]]ise by [[condensation polymerisation]] to form all known [[polypeptides]] (which form the primary structure of [[protein]]s) in biological organisms during [[gene translation]].
'''α-amino acids''' (α is the Greek letter ''[[alpha]]'') have the general formula '''RCH(NH<sub>2</sub>)COOH'''. There are around 20 naturally occurring α-amino acids which [[polymer]]ise by [[condensation polymerisation]] to form all known [[polypeptides]] (which form the primary structure of [[protein]]s) in biological organisms during [[gene translation]]. Some organisms contain atypical amino acids in their proteins, such as the D-amino acids, selenocystine or pyrolysine. These atypical amino acids are particularly common in organelles such as mitochondria and are encoded in variants of the standard [[genetic code]], such as [[amber codons]].
== Zwitterions ==
== Zwitterions ==