biochemistry Flashcards
(75 cards)
what is the other name for proteins? and what does this mean?
polypeptides- many amino acids
how many amino acids do we have?
20
how many essential amino acids and what does this mean?
9 essential- need to eat, we cannot make
ow many non-essential amino acids and what does this mean?
11 non-essential- body makes
how are amino acids joined?
by a condensation polymerisation reaction which forms a repeating backbone with alternating R groups.
chirality?
amino acids have a chiral carbon centre which means that the have 4 different environments all around- an amine, R, H, carboxy
what are the exceptions in amino acids?
glycine is not chiral
proline changes from the general structure (but still chiral)n
what is the basic end? acidic end?
- amine
- carboxy
how are amino acids categorised?
by the properties of the R group
non-polar
dispersion forces only
+ charge
has an NH3+, NH2+ or NH+
polar
has an OH, C=O
- charge
lost some H forming O-
what does it mean that amino acids can acid as buffers?
they have amphiprotic capacity- act as an acid or base, this leads to conjugate pairs
what aspects does a zwitterion have?
a positive (protonated) and negative (deprotinated) end
- neutral overall
- protonated end is basic and accepts H+ in acidic solutions
- deprotinated end is acidic and donates H+ in basic solutions
- therefore amphiprotic and acts as a buffer
important note in buffering?
R groups can participate
at pH 7?
always zwitterions because neutral
how are dipeptides formed?
water is expelled, allowing C=ONH (amide link or peptide link) to form
what if dipeptides are being broken down?
add water ands its hydrolysis
number of waters lost?
number of amino acids-1
working out number of possibilities
use factorials
how does hydrolysis work?
water is added, the amide link breaks
primary structure
bead chain of amino acids
- peptide bonds (covalent bonds)
secondary structure
hydrogen bonding occurs causing folding on b-sheet or a-helix