Amino Acids Flashcards
Why does the discovery of RNA as a genome violate the central dogma?
DNA is historically thought to be the central core. To support the linear progress of the process. RNA as the core violates this
How does the discovery of Retroviruses (such as HIV) violate the central dogma?
1970 - discovery found that RNA as genome. They utilize reverse transcriptase to create DNA. It challenges the idea of linear polymer in which DNA is a template -> RNA -> Protein
In the traditional central dogma theory, which polymer is the functional unit of life to the cell?
Proteins
Even though the traditional central dogma theory has been accepted largely for a long time, how does the idea of linear polymer contradict this ideal? What does it hint?
Part of the linear polymer ideal state that templates exist at every molecular stage (DNA, RNA, and pro-). This hints that conversion form one polymer to the next is not linear, but can also go backwards too.
What were Rosalind Franklin’s contributions to the discovery of the double helix of DNA?
Rosalind Franklin actually measured and captured the helix of DNA in her XRay diffraction of DNA. Crick and Watson utilized her info to draw their own conclusions.
How does Marshall Nisenberg define the central dogma discovered by Crick and Watson?
DNA can self replicate
DNA can also be transcribed to RNA and RNA is then translated into protein
How is DNA replication different from DNA transcription?
DNA replication is the process in which DNA gets stored as DNA for another/new cell. DNA transcription is the process in which DNA is converted into RNA.
How can you utilize language in a way to differentiate the difference between transcription and translation?
Transcript: The same alphabet. One text written to another. DNA -> RNA. Nucleotide -> Nucleotide
Translation: One language to another. RNA -> Pro- (nucleotide -> amino acids)
DNA, RNA, and protein are considered linear polymers. What doe s that mean? What is its significance in terms of central dogma?
Single units of each are attempted at most to at most to others. This gives a sequence and allows a template to exist. The template assures information is accurate encoded and passed on.
Explain to different cells as a RBC and a fat cell have a different phenotypes, function, dominant metabolic pathways, etc. If they share the same DNA copies. Name examples of these processes.
Modification of the genome results in different in different phenotypes.
Such epigenetic mechanisms are DNA methylation and histone modification
How are epigenetics a violation of the traditional view?
The study if heritable changes in gene activities demonstrate how DNA, the central blue print, can be altered. This idea is not present with traditional views. The traditional view focuses on changes in phenotype only by change in genotype.
What are the functional differences between cDNA and ncRNA? What processes do they tend to be associated with?
cDNA is generated in the process of RNA reverse transcribing to DNA, in which enzyme reverse transcriptase adds on complimentary DNA to the RNA template
ncRNA are non coding RNA that do not require translation into proteins to become functional. (Per the traditional view of central dogma) Instead RNA can become functional. Ex: tRNA and rRNA
Along with epigeneitcs and reverse transcription violating. What other two processes/ideals violate the theory
RNA as genomes and non-coding RNAs
Besides these 3 functions: catalysts, structural, and transport, what other function do proteins have?
Immunity, communication, mobility
Link the idea of linear polymers to amino acids and proteins.
The primary structure of proteins are composed of a linear polymer. Units of an amino acid sequentially linked through peptide bonds sequentially.
True or False: The secondary structure of a protein contributes to the folding a molecule.
False. Sequence of an a.a determines the 3 dimensional structure as it folds spontaneously
There are only 20 different types of amino acids in the human body. What makes each amino acid different from the next?
The R Group
In general, what does the R group of an amino acid determine about that molecule?
R groups determine the capability, reactivity, solubility and overall charge of the amino acid
In terms of amino acids, how does it affect the function of a protein?
Arrangement and sequence of amino acids affects the function of a protein
What is the purpose of an R group in an active site of a catalyst?
R groups are especially important in enzymes as they can carry out different reactions to speed up the reaction
Different amino acids have different rigidness in characteristics compared to others. Name an example regarding cell structure in which rigid amino acids would be used over a flexible amino acid
The cytoskeleton - gives structure to the cell and can’t bend (would be done with a flexible a.a)
True or False: Proteins are functional and can act alone in delivering reaction without the assistance of others.
False. Proteins tend to not act alone. They usually from functional complexes with macromolecules and other proteins.
Give the molecular explanation as to why amino acids are referred to as alpha amino acids.
They’re named by the chiral carbon attached to the carbonyl group.
How many alpha amino acids exist in the body?
A. 10
B. 20
C. 9
D. 12
B. 20 There are 10 essential amino acids (means the body can not make these itself). But alpha amino acids ≠ essential. The definition simply means that an alpha amino acid is attached to 4 groups: H, NHx, COOx and R group. Therefore all 20 a.a found in body are alpha a.a
The human body tends to be at a neutral pH uniformly. how does this affect the carbonyl and amino acid group of an amino acid in terms of protonation and deprotonation?
COOH -> COO-
NH2 -> NH3
The amino acid will tend to exist as a Zwitterion species
All amino acids have a S configuration except:
A. Gln
B. Thr
C. Try
D. Cys
D. Cysteine, Cys, C. A.a has a sulfur which shifts the priority to it rather than to nitrogen. This causes it to have an R configuration while all others have a S configuration in absolute configuration. Even though cysteine has R configuration, it still shares and L configuration like all other amino acids
In figuring absolute configuration of a molecule, what is used to assess priority:
A. Proton and neutron
B. Protons
C. Electrons
D. Atomic Mass
B. The atomic number is used to give priority which is the number of protons of the element.
Does dipole have any relation to a Zwitterion species of an amino acid?
Yes. When an amino acid exists as a zwitterion species, this molecule has two dipole moments both + and - and is considered to exist in its dipolar forms
The protonation of an amino group and a carboxyl group on an amino acid is determines by…
A. The folding of a protein
B. The activity of an enzyme
C. Available H’s within a solution
D. Available OH’s within a solution
C. pH of a solution determines protonation/deprotonation therefore available protons
pH of 4 is considered acidic or basic within the body? What protonation of carboxyl are at this pH?
This is considered a neutral pH. Amino acids start entering their zwitterion species with COOH -> COO- and NH2 -> NH3+
At a pH of 1, what is the expected amino acid charge species existing at this environment?
Positive species with COOH and NH3+
True or False: pH4 is the condition in which positively charged amino acid species begin to lose H+ on COOH to form zwitterions.
False. At pH2, COOH begins to dissociate. At pH of 4-7, most amino acids exist as zwitterion species.
True or False: At pH of 7, amino acids experiencing dissociations of H+ from amino group to form negatively charged species.
False: This is seen at pH of an a.a pH of 7, amino acids still in their zwitterion species.
All of the following help determine the physical and chemical properties of a side chain except:
A. Size
B. Structure
C. Ability to oxygen bond
D. Ability to hydrogen Bond
C. The ability to oxygen bond
Which of the following helps determine the physical and chemical properties of an amino acid:
I. Shape
II. Polarity
III. Hydrophobic Properties
IV. Charge
A. I Only
B. I and II
C. I, II, and IV
D. I, II, III, IV
D. All determine chemical and physical properties of a side chain in an amino acid
Below is a list of quantities that play a significant role in determining the chemical and physical properties of a side chain in an amino acid. Choose the ones that are not essential
- Melting points 2. Size 3. Polarity 4. Ability to hydrogen bond 5. Ability to conduct electricity 6. Structure 7. Shape 8. Charge 9. Hydrophobicity 10. Boiling Points
- Melting Points
- Ability to Conduct Electricity
- Boiling points
True or False: Amino Acids linked together by peptide bonds form proteins and single proteins this fold to form polypeptide chains
False. Polypeptide are made by linked amino acids which fold to form proteins.
Peptide bonds are formed by what reaction? The electrons from which atom initiates the reaction?
Nucleophilic - Addition - Elimination
Usually through an attack of an electronegative atom on the carbonyl carbon, breaking the carbonyl double bond and forming a tetrahedral intermediate.
Peptide Bonds are considered rigid and inflexible due to what?
Due to resonance. Nitrogen’s electrons are able to contribute to the resonance and delocalize the double bond in the carbonyl
True or False: Because the peptide bonds w/n an polypeptide chain are rigid and planar, the polypeptide chain as a whole is linear as a result.
False. Alpha Carbons are able to freely rotate and bend and allow folding to form a protein
A peptide bond is essentially an amide bond formed between 2 amino acids. This creates a uniform backbone with most proteins. What is this pattern within the backbone?
N - α C -CO - N - α C - CO - N - αC - COOH
The pattern in peptide formation creates a N terminus and a C terminus within all polypeptide chain
What is the specific name for each amino acid within a polypeptide chain called?
A residue
The breakdown of a peptide bond to form to amino acids.chains is called hydrolysis. What is the specific and nonspecific hydrolysis of a peptide bond?
Proteolysis and acid hydrolysis
In acid hydrolysis, what two factors are utilized within the reaction to break a peptide bond?
- Strong Acids
2. Heat
How is acid hydrolysis different in outcome from proteolysis?
Acid hydrolysis clears all peptide bonds creating only individual specific cleavages between specific amino acids to form certain chains
Name all the required reactants for proteolysis to occus
Polypeptide chain and protease(s)/proteolytic enyzme(s)
You are analyzing a protein and want to cut the polypeptide chain into smaller chunks. You add trypsin knowing the enyzme only cleaves basic amino acids like arginine and lysine. What is the end result with the following chain.
N term - Thr - Arg - His - Pro - Lys - Val - C Term
Thr - Arg
His-Pro-Lys
Val
Histidine’s side chain has a pKa 6.5, which is very close the physiological pH of 7.4 How does this affect Histidine’s charge at pH of 7.4?
This causes Histidine to be in both a deprotonated and protonated species
Differentiate pH and pKa.
pH is the measurement of available H+ molecules in an environment.
pKa is the measurement of how easily a molecule gives up its hydrogen atom
Protonation and deprotonaton of a molecule, such as an amino acid, depends on its pKa to is environmental pH. Decipher what the molecule’s state will be in the conditions below:
i. pH > pKa
ii. pH < pKa
i. Deprotonation
ii. Protonated
Histidine’s R group’s unique pKa of 6.5 allows it to play an important role w/n enzymes. What can it do?
Histidine stabilizes and destabilizes a substrate during reaction
Alpha helix breakers are amino acids that disrupt the secondary folding of a polypeptide chain with a kink. Names all the amino acids responsible for this.
Proline and glycine
Proline is referred to as a secondary alpha amino group. What does this entail?
It states that the R group of the amino acid attaches back to the amino group of the molecule
Upon examination of proline, it is obvious that the bulky side chain will disrupt an alpha helix coil. Why is glycine also considered a contender in this disruption?
As glycine has a small side chain (H) it has lots of flexibility at alpha carbon. This free rotation could cause kinks as well as it rotates within the helix
Differentiate cysteine from cystine. Are they the same thing?
Both are the same molecule. One is with electrons in its reduced form (cysteine). The other without, in its oxidized form (cystine)
Mnuemonic - “e for electrons”
The formation of disulfide bridges between 2 cysteine amino acids is due to:
A. Peptide Bond
B. Acid Hydrolysis
C. Electron Transfer
D. Nucleophilic Substitution
C. Electron Transfer. The two thiol groups (-SH) Join through a redox reaction in which both share electrons covalently
True or False: Disulfide bridges between 2 cysteine amino acids can only be formed in oxidizing environment/following an oxidation.
True
Disulfide bridges are more likely to form within the intracellular matrix or in the extracellular matrix. Why?
Extracellular because the environment is more oxidizing compared to intracellular
Antioxidants are stored within the cell. How can the meaning of the word help remind you of the environment as reducing
Anti-oxidant - these are kept within cell or ICM
Anti - not oxidizing.
ICM - reduced env. therefore not oxidizing
Amino acids are chiral due to the α carbon. This means it has optical activity. What does optical activity mean?
In testing a substance, as you shine light onto it, if the substance rotates the light, it polarizes a plane. This is only seen in chiral molecules. [chiral molecules - molecules with an attachment with 4 different groups]
Optic activity of a molecule or the rotation of light is dependent on what?
It depends on the stereochemistry/configuration of the molecule = L or D. L Molecules rotate light in (-) or left direction and D rotates light in (+) or right direction
What is the use of the fischer projections?
Fischer projections are another method in illustrating molecules and is most useful stereochemistry/absolute configuration.
Intersection - chiral carbon
Horizontal attachments to the chiral carbon are coming out to the page
Vertical Attachments go into the page
Apply the idea of enantiomers to amino acids found in the body. What does this mean?
Enantiomers are molecules that are mirror images BUT are not superimposable. Therefore L&D or R&S amino acids are enantiomers
Compare and contrast L/D & R/S configuration. Utilize amino acids as your example
L/D = Relative configuration R/S = Absolute configuration
L/D are concerned about the configuration of one group within the molecule. Such as L-amino acids have the amino group on the left hand side. R/S take into account of all groups attached to a carbon and gives them priority before assessing if the molecule is R/S
What type of amino acid configuration is found most commonly in the human body?
A. R Configuration
B. L Configuration
C. D Configuration
D. S Configuration
B. L - configuration