3.13 - Amino Acids, Proteins & DNA Flashcards
Why do some enzymes require Organic co-factors?
Form weak intermolecular forces to the active site & aid in catalysis
Why are enzymes Specific?
They act upon Particular Substrates
Define: Isoelectric point
pH at which a molecule has no net electrical charge
How are Peptide links formed?
Condensation reaction between Amino Acids
What is the Secondary structure of Proteins held together by?
Hydrogen Bonding
Reagents: Acid Hydrolysis of Peptides
HCl(aq)
Diluted Strong Acid
Conditions: Acid Hydrolysis of Peptides
Reflux
What is the Primary structure of Proteins held together by?
Strong Covalent Bonds
Amino Acids Dissolve well in ____ but poorly in ____ solvents?
Water
Non-polar
How can the Side Effects of Cisplatin be Reduced?
|> Using very low dosages
|> Targeting delivery of the drug directly to the cancer cells
a β-pleated sheet has a ____ arrangement of the ____ backbone?
Planar Arrangement
Polypeptide Backbone
What are Genes?
Sections of DNA that holds the code for the amino acid sequence for certain proteins
What is the Lock & Key hypothesis?
That only One Substrate can Bind to One Enzyme due to its Specific shape
How can the Secondary structure of a Protein be disrupted?
|> Gentle Heating
|> Changes in pH
Reagents: Alkaline Hydrolysis of Peptides
NaOH(aq)
Moderately Concentrated Base
What is a Co-factor?
Molecules required by certain Enzymes to carry out Catalysis
Define: Hydrolysis
Breaking of a Bond using Water
In the Condensation reaction between 2-deoxyribose & the organic base, ____ is eliminated?
Water
Why do different Amino Acids have different Polarities?
Have different Side chains
How can Strand Separation occur without breaking the Polynucleotide chain?
Hydrogen bonds between Strands are Much weaker than the Covalent bonds between Nucleotides
What is an Inhibitor?
A molecule w/ a similar Shape to the Substrate which makes similar interactions w/ the active site, Preventing the Subtrate from Binding
What does Hydrogen Bonding in the Secondary Structure occur between?
The NH of one Peptide link
& the C=O of an adjacent Peptide link
What is DNA?
a Polymer of Four Different Nucleotides that contains the Genetic information of an organism
Base Pairings of DNA?
A-T
&
G-C
Where do Hydrogen Bonds occur in the Tertiary Structure of a Protein?
Between C=O & N-H & O-H groups
on the R group sidechains
DNA exists as two ____ strands in the form of a ____ ?
Polynucleotide
Double Helix
Hydrogen bonding in the Secondary Structure occurs between the ____ of one Peptide link & the ____ of ____ Peptide link?
N-H
C=O
An adjacent
What must be used for Amino Acid solutions to be visible?
Ninhydrin - Developing Agent
UV Light
Why is Cisplatin still used for Chemotherapy considering its side effects?
Balance of long-term positive effects
Outweigh
the negative short-term effects
An α-helix has a ____ structure w/ ____ of amino acid residues ____ ____ ?
Spiral
R groups
Pointing Out
Why can Thymine only Hydrogen Bond with Adenine?
Has the right atoms in the right places to form two Hydrogen Bonds
Where do Van der Waals occur in the Tertiary Structure of a Protein?
Between non-polar amino acid R-groups
non-polar sidechains
Where do Ionic bonds occur in the Tertiary Structure of a Protein?
Between Sidechains w/ Charged groups
(e.g. NH₂ |> NH₃⁺
COOH |> COO⁻)
What causes Cancer?
The uncontrollable dividing of cells in the body
Features of a β-pleated sheet?
|> Planar arrangement of the Polypeptide backbone
|> R-groups of amino acid residues point above & below the plane
What is Cisplatin?
a Complex of Platinum(II) w/
two Chloride ion ligands next to each other
& two Ammonia ligands
in a Square Planar shape
How can the Tertiary Structure of a Protein be Disrupted?
|> Gentle Heating (VDWs, Hydrogen bonds)
|> Changes in pH (ionic bonds, sulfur-sulfur bonds)
|> Changes in Solvent Polarity
Why do Enzymes require Metal ion Co-factors?
Form co-ordinate bonds, usually prosthetic groups that are permanently fixed to the active site & aid in catalysis
At the Isoelectric point, what do Amino Acids exist as?
Dipolar ions/Zwitterions
How are drugs w/ Adverse Effects approved for use?
|> Organisations that license drugs for use consider the balance of the benefits & adverse effects
|> Doctors discuss potential benefits & adverse effects w/ patients
Why do Amino Acids Dissolve well in Polar solvents?
Zwitterions interact strongly with polar solvent molecules, allowing the amino acid to dissolve
Define: Stereoisomerism
Compounds w/ same structural formula but a different arrangement of atoms in space
Define: Optical isomer
Non-superimposable mirror image isomers
Why can Cytosine only Hydrogen Bond with Guanine?
Has the right atoms in the right places to form three Hydrogen Bonds
Why is Two Dimensional Thin Layer Chromatography advantageous for Amino Acids?
|> Amino Acids can have similar Rf values in a Solvent
|> Chromatogram can be run w/ two different solvents
|> Each spot then has two Rf values
|> Greater confidence identifying amino acid