It is very helpful to memorize the structures of the 20 common amino acids, especially by classifying them into groups: nonpolar, polar, acidic, and basic. Key ones to remember:
- Glycine (R=H)
- Alanine (R=CH\(_3\))
- Serine (R=CH\(_2\)OH)
- Cysteine (R=CH\(_2\)SH)
- Aspartic Acid (R=CH\(_2\)COOH)
- Lysine (R=(CH\(_2\))\( _4 \)NH\(_2\))