Amino Acids (Serwer 2) Flashcards
(35 cards)
Proteins are polymers of ______.
Amino acids
Common structure of amino acids

Exception to the common structure of amino acids
Proline - an imino acid

______ are compounds related by a mirror image (cannot superimpose).
Opical isomers
Amino acids have one chiral center except for _______.
Glycine - the R group is a second H atom
Electrical Charging of Amino Acids:
- A base binds a hydrogen ion produced by dissociation of water. In water, the amino group acts as a _____ and acquries a _______ charge.
- Base
- Positive charge
Electrical Charging of Amino Acids:
- An acid releases a hydrogen ion that associates with water. In water, the carboxyl group acts as an _____ and acquries a _______ charge.
- Acid
- Negative
Features that differ among the 20 common amino acids
Side chains
Aliphatic (hydrophobic) amino acids
- Glycine (gly)
- Alanine (ala)
- Valine (val)
- Leucine (leu)
- Isoleucine (ile)
Aromatic amino acids
- Phenylalanine (phe)
- Tyrosine (tyr)
- Tryptophan (trp)
Acidic amino acids
- Aspartic acid (asp) (pH 4.1)
- Glutamic acid (glu) (pH 4.1)
Basic amino acids
- Histidine (his) (pH 6.0)
- Lysine (lys) (pH 10.8)
Arginine (arg) (pH 12.5)
Aliphatic hydroxyl amino acids
- Serine (ser)
- Threonine (thr)
Aliphatic amide
- Asparagine (asn)
- Glutamine (gln)
Sulfur-containing amino acids
- Cysteine (cys)
- Methionine (met)
Imino acid
Proline (pro)
Post-translational modification of amino acids: Hydroxyproline/Hydroxylysine
- Prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases: cofactor = Vitamin C (ascorbate)
- Need hydroxylated forms for collagen
________ is the separation of molecules achieved by exposing them to an electrical field.
Electrophoresis
_______ is electrophoresis through a medium that has both buffer and gel.
Gel electrophoresis
For electrophoresis without the gel, the speed of migration is governed by the _________.
Average electrical charge per unit area of a particle
In gel electrophoresis the _____ of the particle is an additional factor.
Size (surface area)
The anode is ______ charged, while the cathode is _______ charged. Negatively charged ions, called ______, move toward the _______. Positively charged ions, called ______, move toward the _______.
- Positively
- Negatively
- Anions; anode
- Cations; cathode
Post-translational modification of amino acids: Phosphoserine (also: phosphothreonine and phosphotyrosine - signal functions)
- Kinase
- Results from cellular signaling from hormones and can lead to activation of target enzymes
Post-translational modification of amino acids: gamma-carboxyglutamic acid
- Carboxylase - Requires Vitamin K cofactor
- Post-translational modification of blood clotting factors (prothrombin)


