Biochemistry - Proteins

10 important questions on Biochemistry - Proteins

Structure of amino acid (Fischer projection)

Chiral C center bound to the following:
Amino group
Carboxyl group
R - group
H

Acid Base characteristics of an amino acid

Acidic Solution:
- Each site is fully protonated, Amine group in NH3+, Carboxyl group is OH

Neutral solution:
- Exists as a zwitterion, Amine group is NH3+, Carboxyl group is OH-

Basic Solution:
- Each site is fully deprotonated, Amine group is NH2, Carboxyl group is OH-

Dissociation constant of amino acids

- Each AA has 2 dissociation constants as they have 2 sites that can accept H+ in basic conditions or dissociate H+ in acidic conditions
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Titration curve of an AA

As base is added, carboxyl group dissociates first, followed by the amino group
AA acts as a buffer around the dissociation points
2 moles of base added / 1 mole of AA ( 2 dissociation points)
Can titrate in reverse

Polar Amino Acids

R-groups are polar, uncharged
Found on the surface of proteins, as are hydrophilic

  • Methionine
  • Threonine
  • Serine
  • Cysteine
  • Tyrosine
  • Asparagine
  • Glutamine

Acidic Amino Acids

R group contains an additional carboyxl group, giving molecule a net - charge
Extra COOH group gives the molecule a third dissociation constant, the PI is closer to more acidic PKa (PKa1, PI, PKa2, PKa3)
Takes 3 moles base to titrate 1 mole AA

Aspartate (Aspartic acid)
Glutamate (Glutamic acid)

Resonance of peptide chains

The true structure of an amino acid chain is a hybrid between a double bond between the 2 sites with a - charged carboxyl group and a + charged amino group, and a protonated NH+ amino group with a c=o carboxyl group

Secondary protein structure

Local structure/ cnfiguration of neighboring amino acids relative to each otherbased on H bonds

alpa helix - coils clockwise, stabilized by intramolecular H bonds between every 4 A.A.s. Side chains point away from core

Beta pleated sheets - chains lie next to each other in rows, form a sheet. held together by H bonds. Assumes a rippled shape due to the number of H bonds present. R groups point above and below the plane.

Tertiary protein structure

3D shape of a protein based on hydrophillic and hydrophobic interactions between the R groups an distribution of disulfide bonds

Fibrous protein: found in sheets or long strands

Globular protein: spherical in shape

Quaternary protein structure

Multiple polypeptides join together, interactions between these units form the quaternary structure

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