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Exploring the Role of Acidic Amino Acids in Protein Function
The intricate world of proteins is foundational to the biological processes that sustain life. Proteins, often referred to as the workhorses of the cell, perform a multitude of functions, from catalyzing biochemical reactions as enzymes to providing structural support in cells and tissues. Their functionality is largely dictated by their unique three-dimensional structures, which are determined by the sequence of amino acids that comprise them. Among the 20 standard amino acids, acidic amino acids hold a particularly significant role due to their distinct properties and the way they contribute to protein dynamics. Acidic amino acids, namely aspartic acid and glutamic acid, are characterized by their negatively charged side chains at…