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MCAT > Amino acid structure and classifications > Flashcards

Amino acid structure and classifications Flashcards

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1
Q

what are nonpolar/hydrophobic/nonaromatic amino acids?

A

these have hydrophobic side chains and stabilize protein structures by aligning towards interior of protein molecule

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2
Q

name some nonpolar/hydrophobic/nonaromantic amino acids

A

Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Methionine, Proline

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3
Q

What is the abbreviation for Glycine?

A

Gly, G

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4
Q

What is Glycine?

A

a nonpolar/hydrophobic/nonaromatic amino acid
- is the simplest amino acid because it has only 1 hydrogen as its side chain, providing flexibility to protein structures
- can be found inside or outside of proteins

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5
Q

What is the abbreviation for Alanine?

A

Ala, A

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6
Q

What is the abbreviation for Valine?

A

Val, V

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7
Q

What is the abbreviation for Leucine?

A

Leu, L

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8
Q

What is the abbreviation for Isoleucine?

A

Ile, I

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9
Q

What are alanine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine?

A

nonpolar/hydrophobic/nonaromatic amino acids that have alkyl side chains of varying lengths, contributing to hydrophobic core of proteins

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10
Q

What is the abbreviation of methionine?

A

Met, M

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11
Q

What is methionine?

A

nonpolar/hydrophobic/nonaromatic amino acid that contains sulfur atom within a thioether group
- often involved in initiating protein synthesis

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12
Q

What is the abbreviation for Proline?

A

Pro, P

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13
Q

What is Proline?

A

nonpolar/hydrophobic/nonaromatic amino acid with a cyclic structure that has the amino nitrogen, restricting flexibility
- often found in turns and loops of proteins

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14
Q

What are aromatic amino acids?

A

have aromatic rings in their side chains, which can absorb UV light, making them useful in determining proton concentration via spectroscopy

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15
Q

Name the aromatic amino acids

A

Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Tryptophan

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16
Q

What is the abbreviation for Phenylalanine?

A

Phe, F

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17
Q

What is Phenylalanine?

A

aromatic amino acid that is nonpolar with a benzyl side chain, contributing to hydrophobic core

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18
Q

What is the abbreviation for Tyrosine?

A

Tyr, Y

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19
Q

What is Tyrosine

A

An aromatic amino acid that has a polar hydroxyl group attached to a benzyl ring
- structure is vital to signaling pathways using tyrosine kinase receptors

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20
Q

What is the abbreviation for tryptophan?

A

Trp, W

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21
Q

What is tryptophan?

A

An aromatic amino acid that is the largest amino acid with a complex double ring that includes a nitrogen atom
- plays important role in protein-protein interactions

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22
Q

What are polar, uncharged amino acids?

A

They have side chains that can form hydrogen bonds with water
- hydrophilic

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23
Q

Name the polar, uncharged amino acids

A

Serine, Threonine, Cysteine, Asparagine, Glutamine

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24
Q

What is the abbreviation for serine?

A

Ser, S

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25
What is the abbreviation for Threonine?
Thr, T
26
What is Serine and Threonine?
Polar, uncharged amino acids that have a hydroxyl group - often involved in phosphorylation
27
What is the abbreviation for cysteine?
Cys, C
28
What is cysteine?
A polar, uncharged amino acid with a thiol group, making it reactive and prone to forming disulfide bonds, which are crucial for protein stability
29
What is the abbreviation for Asparagine?
Asn, N
30
What is the abbreviation for Glutamine?
Gln, Q
31
What are Asparagine and Glutamine?
polar, uncharged amino acids that contain amide groups that don't gain or lose protons, remaining neutral in charge - often involved in hydrogen bonding
32
What are charged amino acids?
amino acids that can further divide into acidic and basic amino acids based on side chain charges - important for enzymatic activity and for creating electrostatic interactions that help stabilize protein structure
33
What are the acidic/negatively charged amino acids?
Aspartic acid, Glutamic acid
34
What is the abbreviation for aspartic acid?
Asp, D
35
What is the abbreviation for Glutamic acid?
Glu, E
36
What do aspartic acid and glutamic acid have?
They are charged amino acids with carboxyl groups in their side chains, which lose protons and become negatively charged - often involved in active sites of enzymes
37
What are the basic/positively charged amino acids?
Lysine, Histidine, Arginine
38
What is the abbreviation for Lysine?
Lys, K
39
What is Lysine?
a positively charged amino acid with a terminal primary amino group - often involved in binding to negative charged molecules
40
What is the abbreviation for Arginine?
Arg, R
41
What is arginine?
A positively charged amino acid with a guanidinium group, making it highly basic - often involved in protein binding
42
What is the abbreviation for Histidine?
His, H
43
What is histidine?
A positively charged amino acid that has an imidazole ring, which can shuttle protons, playing crucial role in enzyme active sites and buffering
44
What are the nonpolar/hydrophobic amino acids?
Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Methionine, Proline
45
What are the nonpolar/hydrophobic aromatic amino acids?
Phenylalanine, tryptophan
46
What is the polar/hydrophilic aromatic amino acid?
Tyrosine
47
What are the polar/hydrophilic, uncharged amino acid?
Serine, Threonine, Cysteine, Asparagine, Glutamine
48
What are the polar/hydrophilic, charged amino acids?
Aspartic acid, glutamic acid, Lysine, Arginine, Histidine
49
What are the polar/hydrophilic negative charged amino acids?
Aspartic acid, Glutamic Acid
50
What are the polar/hydrophilic positive charged amino acids?
Lysine, Arginine, Histidine
51
What is the chemical name of alanine?
CH3
52
What is the chemical name of Methionine?
CH2CH2SCH3
53
what is the chemical name of Isoleucine?
CH(CH3)CH2CH3
54
What is the chemical name of Valine?
CH(CH3)2
55
What is the chemical name of Leucine?
CH2CH(CH3)2
56
What is the chemical name of Serine?
CH2OH
57
What is the chemical name of Threonine?
CH(OH)CH3
58
What is the chemical name of Asparagine?
CH2CONH2
59
What is the chemical name of Glutamine?
CH2CH2CONH2
60
What is the chemical name of Cysteine?
CH2SH
61
What is the chemical name for Aspartic acid?
CH2COOH
62
What is the chemical name for Glutamic acid?
CH2CH2COOH
63
What is the chemical name for Lysine?
CH2(CH2)2NH2
64
What is the chemical name for Arginine?
CH2(CH2)2NH

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