Hydrolysis of proteins gives which type of amino acid?

The correct option is α-Amino acid.

Step-by-Step Explanation:

1. Understanding Proteins:
Proteins are natural biopolymers that are essential for the structure and function of all living organisms. They are composed of long chains of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.

2. What is Hydrolysis?
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction in which water is used to break down the chemical bonds of a substance. During the hydrolysis of proteins (using acids, bases, or enzymes like proteases), the peptide bonds that link the amino acids together are cleaved by adding a water molecule across each bond.

3. Structure of α-Amino Acids:
In an α-amino acid, both the basic amino group (-NH₂) and the acidic carboxyl group (-COOH) are attached to the exact same carbon atom. This carbon is adjacent to the carboxyl group and is designated as the alpha (α) carbon. The general structural formula is:
$R-\mathrm{CH}\left({\mathrm{NH}}_2\right)-\mathrm{COOH}$
where "R" represents a variable side chain unique to each amino acid.

4. Conclusion:
Since proteins are constructed by polymerizing these specific α-amino acids, their degradation via hydrolysis breaks them back down into their constituent α-amino acids.