1A. Structure and function of proteins and their constituent amino acids Flashcards
Most AAs are in what configuration and what enantiomer is that?
S; L
Which aa has an R configuration as an L enantiomer? WHY?
Cysteine; has an SH group that has higher priority than -COOH
Which AAs are great for phosphorylation?
Threonine, Serine, and Tyrosine
Why are T, S, and Y great for phosphorylation?
They have an -OH group!
Which aa is not chiral (its alpha carbon is not chiral) and WHY?
Glycine (Only 3 different groups due to having H as its R group)
What four components make up an aa? (not counting the alpha carbon)
Amino, Carboxyl, R, H
D enantiomers have what configuration? (HINT: clockwise)
R
L enantiomers have what configuration? (HINT: counterclockwise)
S
T/F we use D enantiomers to make proteins
False; we use L enantiomers (all in S configuration except for cysteine)
which group of an aa is protonated in a typical cell (pH about 7)? Explain in terms of pH and pka.
amino (-NH3+)
pH<pka
which group of an aa is deprotonated in a typical cell? Explain in terms of pH and pka.
carboxyl (-COO-)
pH>pka
what are zwitterions? what aa category or categories may fit under this term in a typical cell (pH=7)?
molecules with net neutral charge; polar uncharged and non-polar AAs
which aa is not optically active and why
glycine; achiral
pka>pH. Protonated or deprotonated?
Protonated
pka<pH. Protonated or deprotonated?
Deprotonated
if in a high pH environment, are most aa R groups - or +?
negative; high pH means most pkas will be less than the pH
if in a low pH environment, are most aa R groups - or +?
positive; low pH means most pkas will be more than the pH
Which basic aa is actually neutral at physiological pH and why
histidine; becomes deprotonated from NH3+ since its pka is less than pH
T/F Hydrophobic AAs are found in the cytosol or exterior surface of cells
False; Hydrophobic AAs are within cell membranes because they HATE water
what does aliphatic mean
compound with Cs and Hs
All aromatic compounds are non-polar except which two and what are they categorized as?
Histidine= basic
Tyrosine= polar, uncharged
Which AAs will never be found in alpha helix secondary structures and WHY
Proline and Glycine (THINK PG)
They destabilize and break them!
what two AAs create the phosphomimetic effect? WHY? (What even is this effect?)
Glutamic (E) and aspartic (D) acid
When R groups mimic phosphate groups. Phosphate groups are negatively charged and so are E + D, which is why they mimic them! This can cause permanent activation of an aa.
what aa creates disulfide bonds
Cysteine, it has -SH (thiol or sulfhydril)