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Amino Acids Flashcards

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
Proline (Pro, P)
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
26
Abbreviation for Phenylalanine
Phe, F
27
Phenylalanine
28
Phenylalanine (Phe, F)
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
29
Abbreviation for Tyrosine
Tyr, Y
30
Tyrosine
31
Tyrosine (Tyr, Y)
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
Abbreviation for Tryptophan
Trp, W
33
Tryptophan
34
Tryptophan (Trp, W)
Double ring structure W (double U) double ring Precursor of serotonin and melatonin pKa - 2.38 pKa - 9.34
35
Polar Uncharged Amino Acids
Serine, Threonine, Asparagine, Glutamine, Cysteine "Santas Team Needs Cool Quilts"
36
Abbreviation for Serine
Ser, S
37
Serine
38
Serine (Ser, S.)
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
Abbreviation for Threonine
Thr, T
40
Threonine
41
Threonine (Thr, T)
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
Abbreviation of Asparagine
Asn, N
43
Asparagine
44
Asparagine (Asn, N)
- 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
Abbreviation for Glutamine
Gln, Q
46
Glutamine
47
Glutamine (Gln, Q)
- 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
Abbrebiation of Cysteine
Cys, C
49
Cysteine
50
Cysteine (Cys, C)
- 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
Basic Amino Acids - Positively Charged
Arginine, Histidine, Lysine Knights Riding Horses
52
Abbreviation of Arginine
Arg, R
53
Arginine
54
Arginine (Arg, R)
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
Abbreviation of Histidine
His, H
56
Histidine
57
Histidine (His, H)
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
Abbreviation of Lysine
Lys, K
59
Lysine
60
Lysine (Lys, K)
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
Negatively Charged (acidic) AA
Aspartic acid, Glutamic acid Asparatate, Glutamate Dragons Eat Negatives (Acid)
62
Abbreviation of Aspartic acid Asparatate
Asp, D
63
Aspartic acid, Aspartate
64
Aspartic acid (aspartate) (Asp, D)
Componet of the sweetner aspartame along with phenylalanine pKa - 1.95 pKa - 9.66 pKa - 3.71
65
Abbreviation of Glutamic acid (glutamate)
Glu, E
66
Glutamic Acid (glutamate)
67
Glutamic acid (glutamate) (Glu, E)
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
What are the Essential Amino Acids
Histidine Leucine Isoleucine Lysine Methionine Phenylalanine Threonine Tryptophan Valine PVT TM Hill (Priviate TM Hill)
69
How are peptide bonds broken?
Through hydrolysis - Energetically favorable - Extreamly slow in physciological conditions
70
Proteases
- Break down peptide bonds

MCAT Self Study (4 decks)

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