2 Interactions between proteins

37 important questions on 2 Interactions between proteins

What factors influence the functionality of proteins, particularly their solubility and other properties?

The main factors include:
  • Interactions between proteins and other components.
  • Non-covalent molecular interactions:
  • - Van der Waals
  • - Hydrogen bonds
  • - Hydrophobic
  • - Electrostatic
  • One covalent interaction: disulphide bridge.

What are the learning goals related to protein properties in this course?

The goals are to:
  1. Understand surface charge density.
  2. Understand surface hydrophobicity.
  3. Analyze the impact of pH and salts on electrostatic interactions between proteins.

What are protein interactions and how are they influenced by surface properties?

  • Protein interactions involve attraction and repulsion.
  • Attraction: Two hydrophobic particles attract.
  • Repulsion: Two positively charged particles repel.
  • Properties influencing interactions:
  • - Surface charge density affects electrostatic interactions.
  • - Surface hydrophobicity affects hydrophobic interactions.
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Describe surface hydrophobicity as illustrated in Figure 9.

  • Surface hydrophobicity involves regions attracting water or not.
  • Hydrophilic areas are shown in blue.
  • Hydrophobic areas are shown in yellow.
  • Surface properties affect protein interactions in solutions.

How does surface charge density affect protein interactions?

  • Surface charge density refers to distribution of electrical charge.
  • Negative charge: attracts positive charges.
  • Positive charge: attracts negative charges.
  • Changes with pH, affecting protein function and interactions.

What variations in surface charge density occur at different pH levels?

  • Surface charge density changes with pH.
  • α-chymotrypsin:
  • - pH 5: predominantly neutral/positive.
  • - pH 9: shows increased negative charge.
  • Lysozyme:
  • - pH 5: positive charge dominant.
  • - pH 11: more neutral/negative areas.

What are the color codes used to represent surface areas in globular water-soluble proteins and A-helical membrane proteins?

  • Blue indicates hydrophilic surfaces
  • Orange denotes hydrophobic areas
  • Dark salmon represents residues that are in between

How are the surface representations of α-chymotrypsin and lysozyme colored according to electrostatic potential at different pH levels?

  • At pH = 5:
  • - -5 keV is colored red
  • - +5 keV is colored blue
  • pI: α-chymotrypsin is at pH 9, lysozyme at pH 11

What is surface charge density in proteins?

It indicates the number of charges per area on the protein surface.
  • Influences ZETA POTENTIAL (mV)
  • Depends on pH conditions
  • Changes at pH equal to pI

How does the zeta potential relate to protein surface charges?

Zeta potential measures surface charges.
  • Equal charges at pH = pI
  • Example: pH 9 for α-chymotrypsin
  • Negative zeta potential at pH below pI

What factors influence the surface hydrophobicity of proteins?

Surface hydrophobicity is affected by:
  • Presence of polar groups (hydrophilic)
  • Presence of non-polar groups (hydrophobic)
  • Protein folding and denaturation

What happens to hydrophobicity during protein unfolding?

Hydrophobicity increases with unfolding.
  • Non-polar groups become exposed
  • Regional changes due to folding alterations
  • Important for globular proteins

How does protein folding affect surface charge density and hydrophobicity?

Protein folding determines:
  • Charge distribution affecting surface charge density
  • Arrangement of polar and non-polar groups
  • Changes upon denaturation impacting both properties

How do pH and salts affect electrostatic interactions between proteins in solution?

  • Proteins in solution have a water layer that includes ions.
  • This layer moves with the protein.
  • The zeta potential is measured at this layer's edge.
  • Changes in pH affect protein charge.
  • Salts can shield or enhance electrostatic interactions.

How does the pH of the solution influence the charge of proteins?

Proteins' charge can vary based on solution pH:
  • Net positive charge
  • Net negative charge
  • Net zero charge
  • Charge impacts repulsion at distance.

What happens to the repulsive energy of particles at large distances?

At distances greater than 7 nm:
  • Particles don't feel repulsive energy
  • Minimal charge equals minimal repulsion
  • Distance impacts interaction potential.

What influence do charge and counterion concentration have on repulsive energy?

The increase of repulsive interaction energy depends on:
  1. The charge of the protein
  2. The concentration of counterions
- Both affect electrostatic repulsion.

What is illustrated in the graph regarding repulsive energy between particles?

The graph shows:
  • Interaction potential as a function of distance
  • Different net charges from -25 to almost zero
  • Charge change alters repulsion at all distances.

What is the outcome when the charge on the protein is altered?

Changing the protein's charge results in:
  • Variation in repulsion at all distances
  • Starts from the wall of the particle
  • Distance directly influences interaction.

What does the electrostatic repulsive interaction energy between two particles depend on according to the graph?

  • Interaction energy decreases with increasing distance.
  • Higher net charges (-25 to -1) result in stronger repulsive energy at the same distance.
  • At ~1 nm, repulsion is significantly higher for high-net charges.

How does pH affect the interaction between proteins?

  • Protein charge varies with pH.
  • At pH equal to pI, proteins have minimal repulsion.
  • When pH > pI, proteins become negatively charged.
  • High repulsion occurs with strong negative charge.

What do the graphs of electrostatic repulsion look like for positively charged particles ranging from +1 to +18?

Graphs for positively charged particles would show:
  • Electrostatic repulsion increases with charge
  • Moderate attraction at lower charges
  • Transition to stronger repulsion as charge approaches +18
  • Graphs shift positively compared to negative interactions

How do counterions influence the interaction potential between charged proteins?

The presence of counterions affects interaction potential by:
  • Screening the protein's charge
  • Reducing effective repulsion
  • Introducing ions such as Na+ and Cl-
  • Enhancing stability in food products through ions like Ca2+

What principle is illustrated by the surrounding of a negatively charged protein in a NaCl solution?

  • Screening of charges by counterions: The negatively charged protein attracts positively charged sodium ions.
  • This attraction leads to further attraction of negatively charged chloride ions.
  • Zeta potential is measured at the grey dashed line where the protein appears net-neutral.
  • Counterions create a water layer, making the protein seem neutral at a distance.

What is the effect of salt on electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged proteins?

Increasing salt concentration reduces electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged proteins. Major points include:
  • Interaction potential at 0 distance = 25
  • Higher salt allows closer protein proximity
  • Charges are screened by salt

How is ionic strength (I) calculated in protein studies?

Ionic strength (I) can be determined using the equation:
  • I = 0.5 Σ C i z i²
  • C i represents molar concentration of ions
  • z i refers to ion valence

Why should pH be measured when using protein ingredients?

pH measurement is crucial due to:
  • Proteins produced at specific pH
  • Presence of basic and acidic groups
  • Potential changes in pH during dissolution
  • Importance of buffers

Why is it important to re-measure pH at higher protein concentrations when dissolving?

Re-measuring pH is essential due to:
  • Changes in pH from dissolved proteins
  • Basic and acidic groups acting as buffers
  • Ensuring stable protein properties

What are the molar salt concentrations for the samples made with different salt concentrations (0.100 g/L, 0.200 g/L, 0.500 g/L)?

The molar salt concentrations can be calculated using:
  1. 0.100 g/L: 0.0043 mol/L NaCl
  2. 0.200 g/L: 0.0086 mol/L NaCl
  3. 0.500 g/L: 0.0215 mol/L NaCl

Are the salt concentrations of 0.100 g/L, 0.200 g/L, and 0.500 g/L logical for studying the effect of salt on protein solubility?

These concentrations may be logical, but:
  1. They are relatively low.
  2. Higher concentrations may be needed to effectively study protein interactions.
  3. Increased salt can strongly screen protein charges.

What concentration is needed to strongly screen the charges on proteins and allow them to approach each other closely?

A higher concentration is required to:
  1. Effectively screen charges.
  2. Allow proteins to approach each other closely.
  3. Usually higher than 0.500 g/L for significant effects.

How is the interactional potential (U) defined in relation to proteins?

The interactional potential is defined by:
  1. Charge of the protein (Z).
  2. Separation distance (R).
  3. Debye length (κ) based on salt concentration.

What is the significance of the Stern layer in the context of protein surface potential?

The Stern layer contains:
  1. Ions tightly bound to the protein surface.
  2. Thickness equal to the radius of counterions.
  3. Determines Stern potential, which is lower than surface potential.

What is measured to determine the zeta (ζ)-potential of a particle in solution?

To determine zeta-potential:
  1. Measure particle mobility in an electric field.
  2. Analyze the layer of water and counter ions around the particle.
  3. Calculate zeta-potential, which is lower than Stern potential.

How does the size of a protein affect its surface charge density?

Protein size influences surface charge density:
  1. Smaller proteins (1 nm radius) have higher surface charge density.
  2. Larger proteins (3 nm radius) with the same charge have lower density.
  3. Surface charge density affects protein interactions.

What challenges are associated with measuring the surface potential of proteins?

Measuring surface potential is challenging due to:
  1. Presence of counter ions in solution.
  2. Difficulty in determining the actual potential near the protein surface.
  3. The relationship between surface, Stern, and zeta potentials complicates measurements.

What factors can influence the Debye length (κ) in relation to protein interactions?

Debye length (κ) can be influenced by:
  1. Salt concentration in solution.
  2. Ion types present.
  3. Temperature of the solution which affects ionic strength.

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