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Introductory Biochemistry > Amino Acids > Flashcards

Amino Acids Flashcards

1
Q

How many different combinations are there for triplet codons?

A

64

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2
Q

What is a triplet codon?

A

A DNA/RNA molecule that codes for a particular amino acid through a group of three successive nucleotides

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3
Q

What components make up the general structure of an amino acid?

A
  1. A central carbon
  2. A hydrogen
  3. A carboxyl group
  4. An amino group
  5. A varying R-group
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4
Q

How many different amino acids are there?

A

20

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5
Q

What is the general formula for an amino acid?

A

RCH(NH2)COOH

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6
Q

When ionised in water, what is the general formula for an amino acid?

A

RCH(NH3+)COO-

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7
Q

What is the central carbon of an amino acid called?

A

An alpha carbon

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8
Q

Amino acids are chiral molecules. What does this mean?

A

Amino acids can exist as L or D isomers. These isomers are mirror images of each other

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9
Q

Amino acids have L or D isomers. Which of these are the only ones found in life?

A

L isomers

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10
Q

What is a polypeptide chain?

A

A string of amino acids connected together by peptide bonds

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11
Q

When a polypeptide chain forms, the amino and carboxyl groups from two amino acids join together to form one of two bonds. What are these two types of bonds?

A

Amide or peptide bonds

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12
Q

When the amino and carboxyl groups from two amino acids join together to form a bond, what molecule is eliminated?

A

A water molecule

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13
Q

Where are polypeptide chains formed?

A

On the ribosome

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14
Q

What is the simplest amino acid?

A

Glycine

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15
Q

What is the R-group on the amino acid Glycine?

A

A single hydrogen atom (H)

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16
Q

What is the only amino acid to not have a chiral centre, and therefore has no isomers?

A

Glycine

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17
Q

Is Alanine a large or small amino acid?

A

A small amino acid

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18
Q

What is the R-chain of Alanine?

A

A methyl group (-CH3)

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19
Q

What are the three larger amino acids that have aliphatic hydrocarbon side-chains for their R-group?

A
  1. Valine
  2. Leucine
  3. Isoleucine
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20
Q

What do hydrophobic amino acids tend to do in folded proteins?

A

They orientate away from the water, towards the inside of the folded proteins

21
Q

What R-group do Valine, Leucine, and Isoleucine all have?

A

Aliphatic hydrocarbons

22
Q

What R-group do Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, and Tryptophan all have?

A

Aromatic hydrocarbons

23
Q

What are the three amino acids that have a benzene ring (aromatic) side-chain that contains delocalised pi electrons?

A
  1. Phenylalanine
  2. Tryptophan
  3. Tyrosine
24
Q

The amino acids that have an aromatic side-chain (partially Phenylalanine, Tryptophan, and Tyrosine) can absorb what?

A

UV light

25
Q

If an amino acid can absorb UV light, this means that the protein concentration can be measured in a spectrophotometer at what wavelength?

A

280nm

26
Q

What two amino acids have an aliphatic hydroxyl group as their R-group?

A

Serine and Threonine

27
Q

Hydrophilic amino acids tend to do what in folded proteins?

A

They are more likely to be found the external surfaces of folded proteins

28
Q

What two amino acids contain sulfur in their R-chain?

A

Cysteine and Methionine

29
Q

Cysteine has a highly reactive thiol (-SH) group in its side-chain. They can react together to form what?

A

Disulphide bridges

30
Q

Methionine has a sulfur side-chain carrying thiother (-S-CH3) and Cysteine has a sulfur side-chain carrying thiol. Which is more reactive?

A

Cysteine

31
Q

What are the two amino acids that have an amide (carboxamide) group as their R-chain?

A

Asparagine and Glutamine

32
Q

Asparagine and Glutamine are polar molecules. What is their charge?

A

They are uncharged

33
Q

What two amino acids have a carboxylic group as their R-chain?

A

Aspartate and Glutamate

34
Q

Aspartate and Glutamate can be ionised to release a proton. What is the charge on the amino acids after ionisation?

A

Negative

35
Q

What are the three basic amino acids that contain amines as their side-chains?

A
  1. Lysine
  2. Arginine
  3. Histidine
36
Q

Arginine has a terminal guanidinium group. What is the charge carried on this?

A

Positive

37
Q

Histidine has an imidazole side-chain. What is the charge of this?

A

Either uncharged or positively charged depending on the environment

38
Q

Lysine has a primary amino group (-NH2) which can bind to a proton to become positively charged (-NH3) at what pH?

A

Neutral

39
Q

Proline is not an amino acid - what is it?

A

An imino acid

40
Q

Is Proline a primary, secondary, or tertiary amino acid?

A

Secondary

41
Q

What is the R-group on Proline?

A

An aliphatic side-chain which links covalently back around to the amino group of its central carbon to form a cyclic structure

42
Q

When amino acids are polymerised to form a protein, what are the two groups that remain charged?

A
  1. The terminal -NH3+ and -COO- groups
  2. Any charged side-chains
43
Q

The lower the pKa, the ___ the acid.

A

Stronger

44
Q

The higher the pKa, the stronger the ___?

A

Base

45
Q

What are the nine non-polar amino acids?

A
  1. Glycine
  2. Alanine
  3. Valine
  4. Leucine
  5. Isoleucine
  6. Methionine
  7. Tryptophan
  8. Phenylalanine
  9. Proline
46
Q

What are the six polar amino acids?

A
  1. Serine
  2. Threonine
  3. Cysteine
  4. Tyrosine
  5. Asparagine
  6. Glutamine
47
Q

What are the two acidic electrically charged amino acids?

A
  1. Aspartic acid
  2. Glutamic acid
48
Q

What are the three basic electrically charged amino acids?

A
  1. Lysine
  2. Arginine
  3. Histidine

Introductory Biochemistry (16 decks)

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