On the surface, memorizing amino acids seems easy enough. After all, there are only 20 amino acids to remember. 

However, each of those amino acids has two corresponding abbreviations. Each also has a unique structure—not to mention the various properties (essential, non-essential, polar, non-polar, etc.). 

Suddenly, 20 things to memorize becomes more like a hundred (at least). And depending on your reasons for memorizing amino acids, you may even need to branch beyond the 20 most common amino acids (and well into the other 480).  

But don’t panic. I’m here to guide you through this process and offer a bit of advice on how to memorize different aspects of these crucial building blocks of life.

Why Go Through The Trouble to Memorize Amino Acids?

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, amino acids are the fundamental units that make up proteins, which are vital for biological functions in the human body (and the bodies of basically all living things). As Preston Cloud once said, “One amino acid does not a protein make—let alone a being.” 

So whether you’re studying for the notoriously difficult MCATs, or your next biochem quiz (or maybe you’re just a glutton for punishment), a lot rides on your knowledge of amino acids. 

To comprehend protein structure, metabolism, and even genetic mutations, you’ll need a solid grasp on our dear friends, the amino acids.

Let’s Start With Some Basic Knowledge

You probably know most of this already, and if you do, feel free to skip ahead to the next section. 

Otherwise, this was helpful context for me (a lifelong learner) in my quest to memorize the 20 main amino acids. 

Some amino acids are classified as essential amino acids, meaning they must be obtained from our diet, while others can be synthesized by the body. The latter would be what you call nonessential amino acids.  

On a structural level, amino acids consist of: 

1. An amino group (COOH).
2. A carboxyl group (NH2).
3. An R group (side chain). 

All of these are attached to a central carbon atom. It’s the unique structure of the R group that distinguishes one amino acid from another.  

This probably makes a little more sense with a visual aid:

When you combine these amino acids into a chain, you get a protein. Some of these proteins are more complex than others, and many of them are essential for human existence.

I’ll stop there. Chances are, if you need additional context on amino acids, you may still need to hit the books before going any further.

Tips and Tricks for Memorizing Amino Acids

Mnemonic devices

There’s no single correct memorization process for making amino acids stick, especially since there are different reasons for memorizing them. 

But Mnemonic techniques are one of the more tried-and-true methods. Many people smarter than I have created memorable phrases and acronyms that help recall the amino acids and their properties.  

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Polar amino acids (hydrophilic): Santa’s Team Crafts New Quilts Yearly.
  • S: Serine (Ser).
  • T: Threonine (Thr). 
  • C: Cysteine (Cys).
  • N: Asparagine (Asn).
  • Q: Glutamine (Gln).
  • Y: Tyrosine (Tyr).
• Non-polar side chains:Grandma Always Visits London In May For Winston’s Party.
  • G: Glycine (Gly).
  • A: Alanine (Ala).
  • V: Valine (Val).
  • L: Leucine (Leu).
  • I: Isoleucine (Ile).
  • M: Methionine (Met).
  • F: Phenylalanine (Phe).
  • W: Tryptophan (Trp).
  • P: Proline (Pro). 
• Electrically charged side chains: Dragons Eat Knights Riding Horses
  • D: Aspartate (Asp).
  • E: Glutamate (Glu).
  • K: Lysine (Lys).
  • R: Arginine (Arg).
  • H: Histidine (His).

It’s somewhat unintuitive that the single-letter abbreviation for some amino acids is a different letter than the word actually starts with (Glutamine is Q, for example), but it’s a necessary evil when so many start with the same letter.

Long story short, mnemonics are incredibly effective tools for memorizing amino acids, and just anything in general. You can stick with some of the classics, or you can create fun and memorable phrases or sentences that associate the names of amino acids with their properties.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Like any other skill, practice is key to memorizing amino acids. Use flashcards and online quizzes, or create your own amino acid quiz to test your knowledge. Dorothy Memory App has at least one study set already made up for you. But I actually recommend creating your own custom study sets (it’s free) and then studying them and taking quizzes over and over again. Just click on either of the links below to get started:

Quiz Yourself

Create Your Own Quiz

Challenge yourself regularly, and don’t be discouraged by mistakes—they’re part of the learning process. You can’t get it all into your brain all at once.

Learn by Groups or Structure

Another tip (especially if you’re new to this) is to break down the 20 amino acids into smaller, manageable groups based on their properties. 

For instance, you can group them into acidic amino acids, basic amino acids, hydrophobic amino acids, and hydrophilic amino acids. This categorization makes it easier to identify and remember amino acids with similar traits.

Understand Amino Acids in the Human Body

Understanding the role of amino acids in the human body can provide additional context for your memorization efforts. Amino acids are not only building blocks for proteins but also play crucial roles in various metabolic pathways (e.g., glycolysis). 

These metabolic pathways are essential for energy production and various cellular functions. Everything from brain function (including, ironically, your ability to memorize amino acids) to bone development are affected by them.

Codons and Abbreviations

Amino acids are coded for by specific codons in the DNA sequence. If your main reason for memorizing amino acids is to study for the MCAT, you only really need to commit the start and stop codons to memory.  

If you do have to learn all the codon abbreviations for each amino acid, I wish you the absolute best of luck. Learning these abbreviations can reinforce your understanding of how genetic information is translated into protein sequences (and it may well be a requirement in your case), but it’s quite an undertaking.

Wrapping up

Memorizing amino acids is an entirely feasible endeavor. Some combination of utilizing mnemonics, grouping amino acids by properties, understanding their structures, and practicing regularly will get you to the finish line. 

And remember: The knowledge of amino acids is not only valuable for the MCAT (or biochemistry and organic chemistry courses), but also in comprehending the intricacies of life itself. 

In some small, very pedantic way, you’ll know yourself just a little bit better by the time you’re done.

If you found this useful, you might also enjoy my guide to memorizing polyatomic ions.