Biochem Exam 1 Flashcards
Name the Amino Acids with Nonpolar, Aliphatic R groups and describe their unique characteristic.
1.) glycine 2.) alanine 3.) valine 4.) leucine 5.) isoleucine
R groups consist of CH groups.
Name the Amino Acids with Nonpolar, Aromatic R groups and describe their unique characteristic.
1.) Phenylalanine 2.) Tyrosine 3.) Tryptophan
All have aromatic rings.
Tyrosine has OH group
Tryptophan has an NH group
Name the Amino Acids with Uncharged, Polar R groups and describe their unique characteristic.
1.) threonine 2.) serine 3.) asparagine 4.) glutamine
All have an OH or C=ONH2 attached to their R groups.
Name the Amino Acids with Acidic R groups and describe their unique characteristic.
1.) aspartic acid 2.) glutamic acid
Both have COOH group attached to R group.
Name the Amino Acids with Basic R groups and describe their unique characteristic.
1.) histidine 2.) lysine 3.) arginine
All have NH2 or NH3 attached to their R group.
Name the cyclic imino acid and describe some of its unique characteristics.
proline
- Proline does not form a conventional peptide bond
- Very constrained compared to other aa
- The sidechain is aliphatic with no functional groups
- The sidechain covalently bonds to the amide nitrogen eliminating the opportunity for hydrogen bonding at that position
- Its α-imino group is bonded to its side chain
- hydrophobic
Name the Amino Acids with sulfur-containing R groups:
1.) cysteine 2.) methionine
Amino Acids with aliphatic hydroxyl R groups:
1.) serine 2.) threonine
Describe primary protein structure:
Primary protein structure is sequence of a chain of amino acids (often thought of as beads on a string).
Describe secondary protein strucutre:
2 types of secondary protein structure: 1.) Alpha Helix-hydrogen bonds between the “backbone” amide (NH) and carboxyl (C=O) groups stabilize the alpha helix. There are 3.6 amino acids per turn. 2.) Beta Sheet- the “backbone of the polypeptide chain is extended into a zigzag structure. When the zigzag polypeptide chains are arranged side by side, they form a structure resembling a series of pleats.
Amino Acid with an Amide Derivative R group:
1.) asparagine 2.) glutamine
Describe tertiary protein structure:
-Tertiary structure refers to the overall 3D structure of the protein. -Amino Acid side chain interactions contribute to protein folding seen in tertiary structure. -4 types of side chain interactions: 1.) disulfide bonds 2.) hydrogen bonds 3.) salt bridges 4.) hydrophobic interactions
Describe quaternary protein structure:
Can be composed of multiple polypeptide chains. Quaternary structure refers to the number and arrangement of protein subunits.
Define ionization state:
-The ionization state of an amino acid depends on pH. -Amino acids are amphoteric (can act as a base and as an acid). -At low pH, the carboxyl group accepts a proton and becomes uncharged, and the overall charge on the molecule is positive -At high pH, the amino group loses its proton and becomes uncharged, and the overall charge on the molecule is negative +H3N—CH2—COOH ↔ +H3N—CH2—COO- ↔ H2N—CH2–COO-
Define the Henderson Hasselbalch equation:
- Describes the derivation of pH as a measure of acidity in biological and chemical systems
- useful for estimating the pH of a buffer solution
- widely used to calculate the isoelectric point of proteins (point at which protein neither accept nor yield proton)
Define zwitterion:
- a molecule or ion that has both positively charged and negatively charged groups
- in aqueous solution, the amino acid exists as a dipolar molecule

Define pI
- pI is the Isoelectric point.
- It is the pH at which a protein neither accepts nor yields a proton. (The protein has no net electrical charge.)
Define peptide:
-consisting of two or more amino acids linked in a chain, the carboxyl group of each acid being joined to the amino group of the next
Describe Homocysteinuria
- disorder of methionine metabolism
- leading to an abnormal accumulation (excess) of homocysteine and its metabolites in blood and urine
- clinical presentation: downward dislocation of the lens (ectopia lentis), long limbs, mental retardation, and/or seizures due to low abundance of fibrin protein fibers in lens (disulfide bonds required for lens structure).
Describe Sulfite Oxidase Deficiency
-Sulfite oxidase is required to metabolize the sulfur-containing amino acids cysteine and methionine in foods. -Lack of functional sulfite oxidase causes a disease known as sulfite oxidase deficiency. -This rare but fatal disease causes neurological disorders, mental retardation, physical deformities, the degradation of the brain, and death. -Reasons for the lack of functional sulfite oxidase include a genetic defect
Describe Marfan Syndrome
-involves a mutation to the gene that makes fibrillin, which results in abnormal connective tissue -specifically, it can result in lens dislocation, where the lens is shifted out of its normal position. This occurs because of weakness in the ciliary zonules, the connective tissue strands which suspend the lens within the eye.
Describe Hyperbilirubinemia
- Heme oxygenase converts heme to biliverdin, which is ultimately converted to bilirubin.
- If heme oxygenase is overactive you get higher levels of bilirubin resulting in discoloration of teeth
What is the approximate pH of an amino acid that has 2 ionizable groups and is fully protonated?
pH<2.4
What is the approximate pH of an amino acid that has 2 ionizable groups and only one group is protonated?
between 2.4 and 9.8