How Is Cysteine a Large Polar Molecule?

Cysteine amino acid has an embedded sulfur group in its side chain. Looking at the electronegativity difference of hydrogen and sulfur, it can be considered a non-polar side chain because the electronegativity difference is less than 0.5.

What is special about cysteine?

SO WHY CYSTEINE IS SPECIAL? Because it has a very reactive sulfhydryl group at its side chain. This puts cysteine in special position that cannot be replaced or substituted by any other amino acid. Because disulfide bridges formed by cysteine residues are permanent component of protein primary structure.

Are cysteine amino acids polar?

Six amino acids have side chains that are polar but not charged. These are serine (Ser), threonine (Thr), cysteine (Cys), asparagine (Asn), glutamine (Gln), and tyrosine (Tyr). These amino acids are usually found at the surface of proteins, as discussed in the Proteins 2 module.