Biochemistry semester 1 Flashcards
(171 cards)
What is Hunds Rule?
When 2 or more orbitals of equal energy and available electrons will be placed in turn into each orbital until they are both half filled.
What is hybridisation?
Combining of two pure atomic orbitals to make a new orbital which is more stable than pure atomic orbitals.
What does more s character in a bond correlate too?
More s character means that the bond is shorter, stronger and has a larger bond angle.
Do L and D isomers of amino acids have the same stability?
Yes, although all naturally occurring amino acids are L isomers.
What bond angles can rotate in a peptide bond?
Alpha Carbon - N and Alpha Carbon - C
Where are disulphide bonds normally found?
The extra cellular domains of proteins where they confer stability.
In the Anfinsen experiment what was the purpose of urea?
It weakened the covalent bonds
In the Anfinsen experiment what was the purpose of B - metcaptoethanol?
It reduces the disulphide bonds.
What is the Levinthal paradox?
The Levinthal parodic states that due to the large amount of degrees of freedom there are an astronomical amounts of possible conformations of a protein.
Where are ionic interactions strongest and why?
In the core of a protein due to the low dielectric constant.
What is the VDW contact distance?
r^-6
Do ionic forces or permenant dipoles greatly stabilise a protein?
Permenant dipoles although they are weaker.
What causes London Dispersion forces?
Non polar small dipoles at the VDW contact distance.
Are hydrogen bonds longer or shorter than covalent bonds?
Longer, so electronegative atoms are kept apart.
When are hydrogen bonds strongest?
When they are linear, for example in DNA. (The donor hydrogen will be along the acceptors lone pair orbital).
Are glutamate and aspatarte hydrogen donors or acceptors?
Acceptors.
Are lysine and arginine hydrogen donors or acceptors?
Donors.
Where are the most hydrogen bonds found in proteins?
Between two main chain atoms.
Why is water not a typical solvent?
- Has a high dielectric constant.
- Low compressibility.
- High specific heat capacity.
- High surface tension.
- High enthalpy of vaporisation.
Does water stabilise non polar substances?
No.
Why does S increase as the protein folds?
Water molecules in caged structures are released.
What drives protein folding?
Non covalent forces of attraction and repulsion.
What is the strongest non covalent interaction in aqueous medium?
Hydrogen bond.
In an alpha helix are all main chain CO and NH groups hydrogen bonded?
Yes.