Amino Acids and Proteins Flashcards
What are the four major types of molecules?
- Proteins
- Nucleic Acids
- Lipids
- Carbohydrates
What do proteins contribute to the cells?
- Enzymes
- Structural proteins
- Proteins interact with RNA and DNA
- Transport Systems (Lipid bound proteins)
- Glycosylated Proteins
- Cell recognition
What is mean by glycosylated proteins?
Interact with sugars
What is lactoferrin?
Iron binding protein
What happens to lactoferrin when binding with iron?
The shape of the protein changes substantial
Why is it good that lactoferrin changes shape when bound with iron?
Other molecules can distinguish between iron-free and the iron bound forms
Are proteins linear or nonlinear polymers?
Linear polymer
What is monomer called that makes up protein?
Amino Acids
What groups do amino acids have?
- Amino group
- Carboxyl group
- Side chain
- Hydrogen
What is the carbon called which the amino group and carboxyl group is bonded to?
a-carbon
Do amino acids have the same general structure?
Yes
What distinguishes amino acids from one another?
Variation in the side chains
What is bonded to the a-carbon in an amino acid?
- Side chain group
- Carboxyl group
- Amino group
- Hydrogen atom
How do you name amino acids?
End in -ine
What can we do for convenience when naming an amino acid?
Abbreviate to a three letter code
Some can be shortened to one letter
What are the four main groups of amino acids?
- Hydrophobic amino acids with nonpolar R groups.
- Polar amino acids with neutral R groups but the
charge is not evenly distributed. - Positively charged amino acids with R groups that
have a positive charge at physiological pH. - Negatively charged amino acids with R groups that
have a negative charge at physiological pH.
What can Glycine be abbreviated to?
- Gly
- G
What is the side chain of glycine?
H atom
What is chirality?
A molecule or ion which can not be superposed by its mirror image by any rotation or translation combination
Does glycine have chirality?
No
Does all amino acids except for glycine have chirality?
Yes
Is glycine flexible?
Yes
Why is proline an unusual amino acid?
As the side chain bonds to the amine
What does the structure of proline do to the protein?
Causes tight restraint
Does prolines peptide bond cause trans or cis or trans and cis conformations?
Trans and cis
Where do you normally find proline?
In proteins that need to be rigid