Amino Acids Flashcards
Which is the smallest amino acid? What is it needed for?
Glycine
- Inhibitory neurotransmitter for the spinal cord
What does tetanus toxin do?
- Blocks the release of glycine from spinal cord
- Makes muscle contractions much stronger because there is no inhibition by glycine.
- Diaphragm locks up and patients can not breathe.
Which are the aromatic amino acids and what do they do?
- Phenylalanine, Tryptophan and Tyrosine
- Are recognized and cleaved to the right by chymotrypsin in proteolysis.
Which are the basic amino acids, what do they do?
- Lysine and Arginine
- Are big and bulky
- They have en extra NH3+ (positive charge)
- Are recognized and cleaved to the right by trypsin in proteolysis
Which are the acidic amino acids?
- Aspartic Acid and Glutamic Acid
- Have an extra COO- (negative charge)
Which is the main amino acid used for reinforcement of behavior in the NMDA pathway? Which medication blocks glutamate inhibition of the NMDA pathway?
- Aspartate
- Used in reinforcement of gambling/addictions
- Memantine blocks glutamate inhibition therefore you have more activity in the pathway
Which amino acids contain Sulphur? What are they used for?
- Cysteine and Methionine
- Disulfide bonds
- 4 main hormones with lots of disulfide bonds “PIGI”
1. Prolactin
2. Insulin
3. Growth Hormone
4. Inhibin
Which hormones are involved in N-bonds?
- Asparagine and Glutamine
- End in “-ine” and have extra amine group (NH2)
Which amino acid is found in elastin? What does it do?
Lysine residues are found in Desmosine which is found in soluble elastin, its positive charges allow for it to recoil.
Which amino acids are involved in -O bonds?
Serine, Threonine and Tyrosine
They have an extra -OH group
Where is serine found?
On the active site of many enzymes such as serine proteases (Trypsin and Chymotrypsin)
Which are the branched chain amino acids?
Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine
Which amino acid is used to make catecholamines and melanin?
Tyrosine
- Dopamine => Norepinephrine => Epinephrine
Which amino acid is used to make serotonin?
Tryptophan
- Carcinoid syndrome can lead to Tryptophan deficiency
- Because all the Tryptophan is used to make serotonin
- Without tryptophan, can not make Niacin
Acidic amino acids will migrate towards?
The anode (positive charge) - Where anions (negative charge) go
Basic amono acids will migrate towards?
The cathode (negative charge). - Where cations (positive charge) go.
Dehydrogenases other than BCAA Dehydrogenase that require 5 vitamins?
Pyruvate dehydrogenase
Alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase
Vitamins are:
Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Lipoic Acid and Pantothenic Acid
Which amino acids are ketogenic?
Lysine and Leucine
- They are made from and broken back into acetyl coA which is used to make ketones.
Which amino acids are both Glucogenic and Ketogenic?
Phenylalanine, Isoleucine, Threonine and Tryptophan
Which disease causes tryptophan to spill in the urine? What are the signs?
Hartnup’s disease
- Presents like pellagra (Diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia and death)
- Defective renal transport of tryptophan
- Tryptophan def => Niacin/Serotonin def.
In which patients would you not want to give lysine or leucine?
Type 1 diabetics because they are ketogenic and can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. Ketones are too acidic leading to an increase in ammonium (NH4) which in turn produces more GABA.
Which are the essential amino acids?
PVT TIM HALL Phenylalanine Valine Tryptophan Threonine Isoleucine Methionine Histamine Arginine Leucine Lysine
How does the body utilize energy during starvation?
- Plasma glucose (2-4 hrs)
- Liver glycogen (24-48 hrs)
- Proteolysis (starts at 2 days)
- Lipolysis (starts at end of day 2
- Ketogenesis (last resort)
If a baby is born with a problem breaking down proteins, when will it manifest?
At 2 days because thats when proteolysis begins.
