Lectures 7 & 8: Amino Acids, Peptides, Proteins, and PTMs Flashcards
(186 cards)
What does aliphatic mean?
Organic compounds in which carbon atoms form open chains, not aromatic rings.
What is the absolute configuration of naturally occuring AAs?
L
What does it mean for AAs to be zwitterionic at neutral pH?
They have both + and - charged groups
What is methionine’s special role?
First AA incorporated into a peptide chain during translation, but usually gets clipped off at the end
What are the 5 charged AAs?
Histidine Arginine Lysine Aspartic Acid Glutamic Acid
What is the direction of polypeptide synthesis?
N to C termini
Through what reaction do disulfide bonds form?
Oxidation
What happens when you add a reducing agent to a protein solution?
It will break the disulfide links
Is methionine polar?
No!
How are peptide bonds formed?
Via a condensation reaction between the amino and carboxyl groups of 2 AAs
What is the tertiary structure of proteins?
The combination of secondary structures that shield a hydrophobic core
Where can rare D isomers of proteins be found?
Bacteria cell walls so that they can escape our host defense mechanisms
What is the side chain pKa of tyrosine?
10.07
What is the side chain pKa of cysteine?
8.18
What is the side chain pKa of lysine?
10.53
What is the side chain pKa of histidine?
6.00
What is the side chain pKa of arginine?
12.48
What is the side chain pKa of aspartate?
3.65
What is the side chain pKa of glutamate?
4.25
What does the pK1 of AAs represent?
pK of carboxyl group
What does the pK2 of AAs represent?
pK of amino group
What does the pI of AAs represent?
The pH at which the AA is neutral: zwitterion
Is the basic side chain protonated if the pH is below pK2
Yes!
What AA plays an important role for buffering? Why?
His because it has a pKa near physio pH and is often found in its ionized form