Amino acids and DNA Flashcards
How many hydrogen bonds does Adenine and Thymine form?
2
How many hydrogen bonds does Guanine and cytosine form?
3
What is cisplatin?
The most successful anti-cancer drug.
How does cisplatin work?
Prevents DNA replication in cancer cells by a ligand replacement reaction with DNA in which a bond is formed between platinum and a nitrogen atom on guanine.
What are the adverse affects of cisplatin?
It binds to normal cells as well as cancer cells, which stops them from replicating.
This causes hair loss, a suppressed immune system and kidney damage.
How can we reduce these side affects?
Use in low doses and target the tumour directly.
Why does transplatin have different biological effects?
The two chloride ligands are too far apart to effectively bond to two adjacent guanine bases.
Are amino acids acids or bases?
They are amphoteric so both!
They can donate protons, forming peptide bonds with other amino acids.
They can accept protons, forming water in a condensation reaction.
