Amino Acids & Proteins Flashcards
Only __ are used as building blocks for protein
L- Amino Acids
The R group of an amino acid
Determines the unique and specific properties and functions
Does most of the buffering
How many pKa values do amino acids have?
(two answers)
at least 2
a 3rd occurs when the R group is ionizable, these are buffers
which amino acids are ionizable
glutamic acid (glutamate), aspartic acid (aspartate), lysine, arginine, histidine
which amino acids are hydrophobic?
Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Pro, Met, Phe, Trp
which amino acids are hydrophilic
polar r-group: Ser, Cys, Thr, Tyr, Asp, Glu
Which amino acid is neither hydrophobic nor hydrophilic
glycine
Name the essential amino acids
Met, Thr, Arg, His, Val, Phe, Ile, Trp, Lys, Leu
When do amino acid modifications occur?
After the protein has already been made
Hydroxyproline and Hydroxylysine are essential for what?
Proper collagen structure
What vitamin is required for hydroxylation of lysine and proline to then later be used in collagen structures?
Vit. C (Absorbic avid )
What is the most abundant protein in mammalian organisms? at around 30%
Collagen
TRUE or FALSE: Ingested modified animo acids will be incorporated into their respective proteins?
FALSE
Desmosin and isodesmosine are formed from what animo acid? What protein are they prevalent in?
Lysine and they are prevalent in elastin (smooth muscle)
How does carboxylation of glutamic acid affect proteins? What important cascade is this involved in?
carboxyglutamate is a was of protein activation, this is essential in the clotting cascade.
What are the four levels of protein structure?
Primary: Amino acid sequence (peptide bonds)
Secondary: localized structural elements ( alpha helixes, beta pleated sheets)
Tertiary: Protein folding
Quaternary: Interaction of multiple subunits
Why is proper protein folding essential?
Structure is essential to proper function, misfolding can lead to pathologies
Define amyloid
term for a protein that misfolds and aggregates
Name 3 examples of misfolded protein pathologies:
Scrapie
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
Chronic wasting disease
Define enzymes
biological catalysts that increase reaction rate by lowering the activation energy
Define coenzymes
organic or organometallic molecules that assists an enzyme and are REQUIRED for enzyme activity
List two types of enzyme activity control
- Feedback inhibition: increase of end products inhibits regulatory enzyme activity
2.Proteolytic activation: cleavage of part of a protein resulting in activation
what does Km represent?
measures enzyme activity
what does a low Km signify? and a high Km?
low= enzyme has high affinity for substrate
high=enzyme has low affinity for substrate
Define a competitive inhibitor, how does it affect Km, is it reversible? if so how would you reverse it?
Competes with substrate for enzyme. The Km is the same. Is reversible by increase in substrate concentration.
Define noncompetitive inhibitors? How do they affect the Km and Vmax? are they reversible? if so how
Binding away from the active site causing a change in the structure thus affecting its ability to function. Km is increased and Vmax in decreased. It is reversible but only when the inhibiter is removed
What makes a “suicide inhibitor” irreversible?
They interact COVALENTLY (very stable bond) with the enzyme to form a stable complex that permanently inactivate the enzyme
Describe the stomach’s role in protein degredation
the acidic environment of the stomach begins protein denaturation. Hydrolysis of peptide bonds by pepsin into smaller polypeptides
what enzyme in the stomach hydrolyzes protein peptide bonds?
pepcin
Describe the role of the small intestine in protein digestion
-majority of protein digestion
-proteases breakdown polypeptides into amino acids