Amino acids - The Momomers of Proteins Flashcards
What is a protein?
A polymer of amino acids, so at least one long chain of amino acids joined together. So, a protein can consist of more than one polypeptide chain.
What is the general structure of an amino acid?
A central carbon, with an acid (COOH) group at one end, an amino (NH2) group at the other end of the molecule. The carbon also has a hydrogen bonded to it, as well as a variable R group, which is the bit that varies between amino acids. There are 20 different amino acids in nature.
Are all amino acids hydrophobic, are they all hydrophilic, or can they be either?
Some are hydrophobic, and some are hydrophilic, depending on the R group.
What kind of bond joins amino acids together?
A peptide bond.
What kind of reaction is the formation of a peptide bond? What kind of reaction is the breakage of a peptide bond?
Formation is a condensation reaction.
Breakage is a hydrolysis reaction.
In a peptide bond, which parts of the amino acid molecules come together?
The OH from the COOH acid group of one amino acid comes together with the H from the NH2 amine group of another amino acid. H2O is eliminated in the formation of the bond.
What are two amino acids joined together by a peptide bond called?
A dipeptide.
