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BioChemistry for the MCAT :) > Amino Acids > Flashcards

Amino Acids Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

Glycine

A
  • Achiral
  • Neurotransmitter that makes channels permeable to Cl- (influx) which is inhibitory because it changes the membrane potential with a negative charge
  • Aliphatic
  • Hydrophobic
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2
Q

Valine

A
  • Isopropyl group
  • Aliphatic
  • Non-polar Hydrophobic
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3
Q

Isoleucine

A
  • 2 chiral centers
  • Secbutyl group
  • Isomer of Leucine
  • Aliphatic
  • Non-polar Hydrophobic
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4
Q

Phenylalanine

A
  • Benzyl group
  • Aromatic stacking
  • Aromatic
  • Non-polar Hydrophobic
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5
Q

Proline

A
  • Imino Acid
  • Forces kinks in proteins and when transitioning between structures
  • Aliphatic
  • Hydrophobic
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6
Q

Threonine

A
  • 2 chiral centers
  • Aliphatic
  • Polar Hydrophobic
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7
Q

Alanine

A
  • Can be converted into pyruvate when the metabolism is starving:

Pyruvate - CO2 –> can enter Krebs Cycle (Citric Acid Cycle)

Pyruvate can also be used in gluconeogensis to make sugars (glucose)

  • Aliphatic
  • Hydrophobic
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8
Q

Leucine

A
  • Isobutyl group
  • Aliphatic
  • Non-polar Hydrophobic
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9
Q

Methionine

A
  • Start Codon (AUG) on mRNA
  • Thioether
  • Aliphatic
  • Non-polar Hydrophobic
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10
Q

Tryptophan

A
  • Largest side chain / bulky
  • Indole group
  • Resonance
  • Aromatic Stacking
  • Aromatic
  • Non-polar Hydrophobic
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11
Q

Serine

A
  • Alcohol allows hydrogen bonding
  • OH good for temporary bonding other groups
  • Can (de)phosphorylate enzymes and proteins
  • Aliphatic
  • Polar Hydrophillic
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12
Q

Cysteine

A
  • Thiol group
  • Can create tertiary and quaternary stuctures
  • Aliphatic
  • Hydrophobic (slightly polar)
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13
Q

Cystine

A

2 Cysteine molecules are oxidized (lose hydrogens) to form a covalent disulfide bridge between them

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14
Q

Tyrosine

A
  • Phenol
  • Ionizable side chain
  • Resonance with a stable conjugate base
  • Aromatic
  • Polar Hydrophobic
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15
Q

Asparagine

A
  • Amide group
  • 2 carbons in side chain
  • Resonance (does not act as a base)
  • Aliphatic
  • Polar Hydrophillic

*Nitrogen storage for biosynthesis and a metabolism tie in through deamination (2x) will form an alpha-keto acid

Asparagine - NH2 –> Aspartate - NH3 –> Oxaloacetate (found in the Krebs cycle)

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16
Q

Glutamine

A
  • Amide group
  • 3 Carbons in side chain
  • Resonance (does not act as a base)
  • Aliphatic
  • Polar Hydrophillic

*Nitrogen storage for biosynthesis and a metabolism tie in through deamination (2x) will form an alpha-keto acid

Glutamine- NH2 –> Glutamate- NH3 –> Alpha-Keto Glutarate (found in the Krebs cycle)

17
Q

Aspartic Acid (Aspartate)

A
  • Negative charge (found on inside of protein)
  • Can form salt bridge ionic interactions
  • Contribute to tertiary and quaternary structures
  • Neurotransmitter (excitatory)
  • Acidic
  • Hydrophillic

**Aspartate @ physiological pH and Aspartic Acid when it contains an OH alcohol group

18
Q

Glutamic Acid (Glutamate)

A
  • Negative charge (found on inside of protein)
  • Can for salt bridge ionic interactions
  • Contribute to tertiary and quaternary structures
  • Neurotransmitter (excitatory)
  • Acidic
  • Hydrophillic

**Glutamate @ physiological pH and Glutamic Acid when it contains an OH alcohol group

19
Q

Lysine

A
  • Positive charge (found on outside of protein)
  • Also found on inside of channels (considered the outside of a protein)
  • Basic
  • Hydrophillic
20
Q

Arginine

A
  • Guanine group
  • Positive charge (found on outside of protein)
  • Can form salt bridges
  • Conjugate acid of a basic amino acid
  • Basic
  • Hydrophillic
21
Q

Histidine

A
  • Imidiazole group
  • At physiological pH it is in the buffer zone because it has a pka of about 6 (some will be charged and some will not be)
  • Aromatic
  • Basic
  • Hydrophillic
22
Q

Hydrophobic Amino Acids

A
  • Glycine
  • Alanine
  • Valine
  • Leucine
  • Isoleucine
  • Methionine
  • Phenylalanine
  • Tryptophan
  • Proline
  • Cysteine
  • Tyrosine
23
Q

Hydrophillic Amino Acids

A
  • Serine
  • Threonine
  • Asparagine
  • Glutamine
  • Aspartate
  • Glutamate
  • Lysine
  • Arginine
  • Hystidine
24
Q

Basic (+) Amino Acids

A
  • Lysine
  • Histidine
  • Arginine
25
Q

Acidic (-) Amino Acids

A
  • Aspartate

- Glutamate

26
Q

Aromatic Amino Acids

A
  • Phenyalanine
  • Tryptophan
  • Tyrosine

BioChemistry for the MCAT :) (12 decks)

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