Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Introductory Biochemistry > Amino Acids > Flashcards

Amino Acids Flashcards

1
Q

What are some functions of proteins?

A

Structure, catalysis, communication, transport, movement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the monomer of proteins?

A

Amino acids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What 4 groups are attached to the alpha carbon in an amino acid?

A

An amino group, a hydrogen (alpha hydrogen), a carboxyl group, and the side chain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a zwitterion?

A

A molecule that contains both positive and negative charges

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Which amino acid is the only one that isn’t chiral?

A

Glycine. The side chain is another hydrogen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What system for naming chirality is used for amino acids instead of R and S?

A

L and D

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Why is stereochemistry important in biological systems?

A

Especially for enantiomers, the molecule can have all the same chemical and physical properties but will interact with receptors differently

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Which stereoisomer of amino acids is the only one typically found in proteins? Where can the other one be found?

A

L. D isomers can be found in peptidoglycan and in metabolism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Which amino acids have hydrophobic side chains? Which ones have aliphatic and aromatic side chains?

A

Alanine, Valine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Proline, Tryptophan, Methionine, Phenylalanine.

Tryptophan and Phenylalanine have aromatic side chains, the rest have aliphatic side chains

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Which amino acids have polar side chains? Which ones have aliphatic and aromatic side chains?

A

Serine, Tyrosine, Threonine, Cysteine, Histidine, Asparagine, Glutamine.

Tyrosine and Histidine have aromatic side chains, the rest have aliphatic side chains

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Which amino acids have charged side chains (at a neutral pH)? Which ones are positively charged, negatively charged, acidic, and basic?

A

Lysine, Aspartate, Glutamate, Arginine

Lysine and arginine are positively charged and basic, glutamate and aspartate are negatively charged and acidic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for glycine?

A

Gly, G, just a hydrogen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for alanine?

A

Ala, A, hydrophobic aliphatic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for valine?

A

Val, V, hydrophobic aliphatic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for leucine?

A

Leu, L, hydrophobic aliphatic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for isoleucine? What does isoleucine have that valine and leucine don’t have?

A

Ile, I, hydrophobic aliphatic. It has a second chiral centre

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for methionine?

A

Met, M, hydrophobic aliphatic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for proline? What side chain feature is unique about proline?

A

Pro, P, hydrophobic aliphatic. The side chain is cyclic and the amino group has one less hydrogen than normal

19
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for phenylalanine?

A

Phe, F, hydrophobic aromatic

20
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for tryptophan? What is unique about tryptophan?

A

Trp, W, hydrophobic aromatic. It is the bulkiest amino acid and can donate a hydrogen bond even though its non polar

21
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for serine?

A

Ser, S, polar aliphatic

22
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for threonine? What characteristic does threonine have that serine doesn’t?

A

Thr, T, polar aliphatic. It has a 2nd chiral centre

23
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for cysteine? What is cysteine able to do that no other amino acid can do?

A

Cys, C, polar aliphatic. It can form disulfide bridges

24
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for asparagine?

A

Asn, N, polar aliphatic

25
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for glutamine?

A

Gln, Q, polar aliphatic

26
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for tyrosine?

A

Tyr, Y, polar aromatic

27
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for histidine?

A

His, H, polar aromatic

28
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for lysine?

A

Lys, K, charged (positive, basic)

29
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for arginine?

A

Arg, R, charged (positive, basic)

30
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for aspartate?

A

Asp, D, charged (negative, acidic)

31
Q

What is the 3 letter code, 1 letter code, side chain property for glutamate?

A

Glu, E, charged (negative, acidic)

32
Q

How many ionizable groups do amino acids contain?

A

2 - the amino and the carboxyl. Some have ionizable side chains and have 3 ionizable side chains

33
Q

Why are most amino acids zwitterions at neutral pH?

A

Without an ionizable side chain, the amino group is in the HA form (-NH3) and the carboxyl group is in the A- form (-COO-)

34
Q

What is the isoelectric point (pI)? How is it calculated?

A

The pH where the net charge of an ampholyte is 0. Is the average of the two pKa’s

35
Q

Which amino acids have ionizable side chains?

A

Aspartate, glutamate, tyrosine, cysteine, histidine, arginine, lysine

36
Q

Even though they have an ionizable side chain, why aren’t tyrosine and cysteine considered to be charged amino acids?

A

They are in their HA forms at neutral pH so the side chains aren’t charged

37
Q

Which amino acids have side chains that can be hydrogen bond donors?

A

Trp, Ser, Thr, Tyr (HA), Arg, Lys, His, Cys (HA), Asp (HA), Glu (HA), Gln (2), Asn (2)

38
Q

Which amino have side chains that can be hydrogen bond donors?

A

Ser (2), Thr (2), Tyr, Asn (2), Gln (2), Asp (A-), Glu (A-), Lys (A-), Arg (A-), His (A-)

39
Q

Why can’t cysteine accept hydrogen bonds?

A

The sulfur can’t accept hydrogen bonds because the outer electrons have too much energy

40
Q

How are uncommon amino acids produced?

A

Modification of the side chains of common amino acids through phosphorylation or hydroxylation. They are not made through translation

41
Q

What is hydroxylation? What does the enzyme require for it to function?

A

The addition of an OH to proline or lysine, which is an irreversible modification. The enzyme requires vitamin C to function

42
Q

Where are hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine found?

A

Collagen

43
Q

What is phosphorylation?

A

The addition of a phosphate to a serine, threonine, or tyrosine

44
Q

What enzyme adds phosphates? What enzyme removes phosphates?

A

Kinases and phosphatases (through hydrolysis)

Introductory Biochemistry (16 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions