Acid-Base Behavior of Amino Acids Flashcards
What does amphoteric mean?
Capable of donating and accepting protons
What does diprotic mean?
Possessing two dissociable protons
What is a zwitterion?
Dipolar ions, with spatially separated positive and negative charges
What is the isoelectric point?
The pH at which a solute has no electric charge
What is the formula for Keq?
Keq={H+}{OH-}/{H2O}
What is the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation?
pH=pKa+log{A-}/{HA}
What does the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation describe?
The relationship between pH, the buffering action of a free acid (HA) and its conjugate base (A-), and pKa
What is Ka?
A dissociation constant - the tendency of an acid to give up a proton
pKa=?
-log Ka
A low pKa = ?
Strong acid - strong tendency to dissociate
Many of the titration curves are similar between the amino acids. Which one is unlike all the rest?
Histidine
The glutamate titration curve is similar to which other amino acid’s titration curve?
Aspartate
What reaction forms peptide bonds?
Dehydration reactions
What is another name for a peptide bond?
Amide bond
On what two factors is the overall charge of a protein dependent?
- The number of amino acids with charged R groups
- The pH of the surroundings