Week 1 - Metabolism and Replication/ Transcription/ Translation Flashcards
Which amino acids are responsible for kinks or turns in the secondary structure of proteins?
glycine and proline
Sulphur in the R groups of amino acids affect protein structure how?
Creation of disulfide bonds. Cysteine and Methionine
How do disulfide bonds affect protein structure?
stabilize the tertiary structure
Differences between myoglobin and hemoglobin?
•Myoglobin transports O2 to mitochondria for storage
-hyperbolic curve for oxygen saturation
•Hemoglobin transports O2 from lungs to tissue
-sigmoidal curve for oxygen saturation
-easier for O2 to enter tissue
What causes proteins to unfold?
Ph
damage
temperature
organic solvents
Why do proteins aggregate when they denature?
The hydrophobic regions are exposed and can allow them to clump together in big groups
Name a few disease where aggregation of denatured proteins occurs:
Parkinson’s
Alzheimer’s
cataracts
type II diabetes
What happens in prion disease
Creation of beta sheets (alpha helixes are more normal) leads to self association and formation of amyloid fibers. Unclear as to whether it is the fibers themselves or vacuoles they produce that causes disease.
What is a mechanism of aggregation prevention?
Chaperones can prevent the aggregation of misfolded or toxic proteins by breaking up the large aggregate inclusions
Explain the method that chaperones use to break up toxic protein inclusions
chaperones often ubiquitinilate the toxic proteins. This tags them for digestion from the proteosomes
Link between cancer and chaperones?
Cancer tends have a lot of aggregation and lots of chaperones working to reverse this problem. By turning off the chaperones, these problems will not be corrected and the cancerous cells will die rather than continue to proliferate.
What causes the sigmoid curve of oxygen saturation in hemoglobin?
Cooperativity of the subunits. After one O2 attaches, it is much easier for the other ones to join as well. Changes from T state to R state
What is 2,3 bisphosphoglycerate?
It is an allosteric factor that binds and causes deoxygenated hemoglobin to have a lower affinity for oxygen. Basically promotes the T-state. Usually occurs in HIGH altitudes. ENHANCES ability to deliver oxygen to the best location.
What it the T-state
tense state in hemoglobin. It has a lower affinity for oxygen. This allows it to stay deoxygenated as it cycles through the body until hitting the high concentration of oxygen in the lungs. As soon as one oxygen binds it can quickly bind the rest.
What is the R state?
relaxed state in hemoglobin - after oxygen binds to the hemoglobin, the rest of them can easily jump on.
What mutation leads to sickle cell anemia?
A single point mutation in which glutamate is exchanged for a valine. This causes aggregation of beta chains.
Symptoms and treatment for sickle cell anemia?
Sym: swollen hands and feet, organ damage, necrosis, fever and intense pain, problems with lung function
Treatment: Hydroxyurea - basically activates fetal hemoglobin, which has a higher affinity for oxygen
When does fetal hemoglobin stop being produced and adult start?
4 months
Subunits for adult and fetal hemoglobin?
HbA = 2 aplha and 2 beta HbF = 2 alpha and 2 gamma
What does a nucleotide consist of? A Nucleoside?
Nucelotide = nitrogenous base, 5 carbon sugar, phopshate Nucleoside = nitrogenous base, and sugar
What is the base sugar in DNA? RNA?
DNA = 2'deoxyribose RNA = ribose
Purines in DNA/RNA?
Adenosine and Guanine
Pyrimidines in DNA?
Thymine and cytosine
Pyrimidines in RNA?
Cytosine and Uracil