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MCAT Self Study > Amino Acids > Flashcards

Amino Acids Flashcards

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1
Q

Amino Acids

A

Have both an amine (-NH2) and a carboxylic acid (-COOH) 20 aa for the MCAT and are used by the body to build proteins. These are alpha aas because there is a single carbon at the alpha position

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2
Q

What is the average molecular weight of an amino acid?

A

110 Da

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3
Q

Nonpolar AAs with aliphatic hydrocarbon chains

A

Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Leucine, Isoleucine Girls Always Look In Vaginsa

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4
Q

Abbreviation for Glycine

A

Gly, G

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5
Q
A

Glycine

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6
Q

Glycine (Gly, G.)

A

Simplest aa, with a side chain of -H

Only non-chiral aa

“sweet taste”

pKa - 2.34 (COOH)

pKa- 9.58 (NH2)

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7
Q

Abbreviation for Alanine

A

Ala, A

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8
Q
A

Alanine

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9
Q

Alanine (Ala, A.)

A

The 2nd most simple AA

Has a simple methyl group (-CH3)

Often used on MCAT as the canonical ex of a simple, small, nonpolar AA

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10
Q

Abbreviation for Valine

A

Val, V

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11
Q
A

Valine

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12
Q

Valine (Val, V.)

A

Has 2 methyl groups so side chain = CH(CH3)2

Side chain is also reffered to as an isopropyl group

Noteable fact: its substitution for glutamic acid in hemoglobin causes sickle-cell disease (how protein structure and function are related)

pKa = 2.27

pKa = 9.52

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13
Q

Abbreviation for Leucine

A

Leu, L

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14
Q
A

Leucine

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15
Q

Leucine (Leu, L)

A

Very similar to Valine but has an extra carbon added in side chain

Animals (inc humans) cannot synthesize on our own so we must obtain it from our diet

Essential aa

Can be used as a food additive to enhance flavor

pKa - 2.32 (COOH)

pKa - 9.58

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16
Q

Abbreviation for Isoleucine

A

Ile, I

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17
Q
A

Isoleucine

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18
Q

Isoleucine (Ile, I)

A

Structure of the R group = CH(CH3)CH2CH2

Essential aa that we must obtain from our diet

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19
Q

Nonpolar Amino Acids with interesting structures

A

Methionine, Proline, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Tryptophan

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20
Q

Abbreviation for Methionine

A

Met, M

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21
Q
A

Methionine

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22
Q

Methionine (Met, M.)

A

one of two aas that contains a sulfer

Still considered nonpolar because the C-S bond is nonpolar

essential aa that is in eggs

Involved in angiogenesis and DNA methylation

Side chain - CH2CH2SCH3

pKa - 2.16

pKa - 9.08

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23
Q

Abbreviation for Proline

A

Pro, P

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24
Q
A

Proline

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25
Q

Proline (Pro, P)

A

only aa that has a cyclic component that links back with the aa itsself

ability to break up the secondary structure of proteins by introducing “proline kinks”

pKa - 1.95

pKa - 10.47

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26
Q

Abbreviation for Phenylalanine

A

Phe, F

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27
Q
A

Phenylalanine

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28
Q

Phenylalanine (Phe, F)

A

aromatic aa

R group is a simple benzene ring attached to a methyl group

Presence must be strictly controlled in diet of individuals with PKU. (congentital malfunction of the enzyme necessary to convert Phe into tyrosine)

Also present in the sweetner aspartame

pKa - 2.18

pKa - 9.09

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29
Q

Abbreviation for Tyrosine

A

Tyr, Y

30
Q
A

Tyrosine

31
Q

Tyrosine (Tyr, Y)

A

Has a hydroxyl group that can undergo covalent modifications such as phosphorylation

Pretty water soluable

Precursor for many biologically important signaling molecules eg, dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine

pKa - 2.24

pKa - 9.04

pKa - 10.10

32
Q

Abbreviation for Tryptophan

A

Trp, W

33
Q
A

Tryptophan

34
Q

Tryptophan (Trp, W)

A

Double ring structure

W (double U) double ring

Precursor of serotonin and melatonin

pKa - 2.38

pKa - 9.34

35
Q

Polar Uncharged Amino Acids

A

Serine, Threonine, Asparagine, Glutamine, Cysteine

“Santas Team Needs Cool Quilts”

36
Q

Abbreviation for Serine

A

Ser, S

37
Q
A

Serine

38
Q

Serine (Ser, S.)

A

alcohol functional group as a side chain (one of two aas)

  • CH2OH
  • OH group is susceptible to undergoing covalent modifications - target for phosphorylation and other processes involving post-translation modification and signaling

Produced physiologically by glycine

  • we do not have to consume it

pKa - 2.13

pKa - 9.05

39
Q

Abbreviation for Threonine

A

Thr, T

40
Q
A

Threonine

41
Q

Threonine (Thr, T)

A

simple alcohol as a side chain

  • has 1 more C than Ser, so the -OH group is secondary
  • CH(OH)CH3
  • Target for phosphorylation
  • We have to obtain this from our diet

pKa - 2.20

pKa - 8.96

42
Q

Abbreviation of Asparagine

A

Asn, N

43
Q
A

Asparagine

44
Q

Asparagine (Asn, N)

A
  • is a amide

Side chain -CH2C(=O)NH2

  • reacts with reducing sugars (including fructose and glucose) in baked and fried foods to form a potentially carcinogenic compound called acrylamide
  • pKa - 2.16

pKa - 8.76

45
Q

Abbreviation for Glutamine

A

Gln, Q

46
Q
A

Glutamine

47
Q

Glutamine (Gln, Q)

A
  • amide side chain
  • the most common free aa in the human blood and is involved in a wide range of metabolic reactions

pKa- 2.18

pKa- 9.00

48
Q

Abbrebiation of Cysteine

A

Cys, C

49
Q
A

Cysteine

50
Q

Cysteine (Cys, C)

A
  • 2nd aa to contain a sulfur
  • Structure similar to serine but with a thiol (-SH) group instead of a hydroxyl group
  • 2 cysteine residues can form covalent disulfide bonds wich is am important component of tertiary structure.

pKa- 1.91

pKa - 10.28

pKa - 8.14

51
Q

Basic Amino Acids - Positively Charged

A

Arginine, Histidine, Lysine

Knights Riding Horses

52
Q

Abbreviation of Arginine

A

Arg, R

53
Q
A

Arginine

54
Q

Arginine (Arg, R)

A

Side chain composed of an alkyl chain followed by a guanidium group

Has 3 nitrogens in side chain

The positive charge can be resonance stablized making it the most BASIC of them all

Involved in synthesis of several important biomolecules

Plays a role in regulating blood pressure

pKa - 2.03

pKa - 9.00

pKa - 12.10

55
Q

Abbreviation of Histidine

A

His, H

56
Q
A

Histidine

57
Q

Histidine (His, H)

A

Only basic AA that has a cyclic side chain

It can serve as a buffer at pH levels slightly more acidic that physiological pH.

Histidine is meaningfully basic

pKa - 1.70

pKa - 9.09

pKa - 6.04

58
Q

Abbreviation of Lysine

A

Lys, K

59
Q
A

Lysine

60
Q

Lysine (Lys, K)

A

The simplest positively charged AA

Side chain has an alkyl chain that terminates in a primary amine

The amine is fairly reactive and the target of many covalent modifications (methylation and acetylation)

pKa - 2.15

pKa - 9.16

pKa - 10.67

61
Q

Negatively Charged (acidic) AA

A

Aspartic acid, Glutamic acid

Asparatate, Glutamate

Dragons Eat Negatives (Acid)

62
Q

Abbreviation of Aspartic acid Asparatate

A

Asp, D

63
Q
A

Aspartic acid, Aspartate

64
Q

Aspartic acid (aspartate) (Asp, D)

A

Componet of the sweetner aspartame along with phenylalanine

pKa - 1.95

pKa - 9.66

pKa - 3.71

65
Q

Abbreviation of Glutamic acid (glutamate)

A

Glu, E

66
Q
A

Glutamic Acid (glutamate)

67
Q

Glutamic acid (glutamate) (Glu, E)

A

Different from Asp becuase it has an extra carbon

Structural componet of proteins and important neurotransmitter

pKa - 2.16

pKa - 9.58

pKa - 4.15

68
Q

What are the Essential Amino Acids

A

Histidine

Leucine

Isoleucine

Lysine

Methionine

Phenylalanine

Threonine

Tryptophan

Valine

PVT TM Hill

(Priviate TM Hill)

69
Q

How are peptide bonds broken?

A

Through hydrolysis

  • Energetically favorable
  • Extreamly slow in physciological conditions
70
Q

Proteases

A
  • Break down peptide bonds

MCAT Self Study (4 decks)

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