Biochemistry 2 Flashcards
What are the building blocks for proteins?
Amino acids
Why are ‘amino acids’ so called?
Because they have a very distinctive amino functional group and acid (carboxyl) functional group within their molecular structure.
Name the 4 elements that proteins are made from.
Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen
How many different amino acids does the body need to create the proteins needed to function?
20
The inclusion of which structural element, distinguishes proteins from fats and carbohydrates?
Nitrogen.
Only proteins contain nitrogen
As well as an amino group and an acid (carboxyl) group, each individual amino acid has a side chain (labelled ___) that determines its characteristics.
Labelled ‘R’
R-Group = the variant. There are 20 amino acids, so 20 different variations.
Where would you find ‘peptide bonds’?
Where 2 or more amino acids join together, they do so using peptide bonds.
Amino acids join together using ________ synthesis (by removing water), to create ________ bonds.
Dehydration synthesis
Peptide bonds
What is a dipeptide?
2 amino acids joined together by a peptide bond
What is a tripeptide?
3 amino acids joined together by a peptide bond
Name a harmful dipeptide (neurotoxin) that doesn’t occur in nature and is frequently consumed as an artificial sweetener.
Aspartame
Aspartame is an example of a _________, which means it consists of 2 amino acids joined together with a peptide bond.
Dipeptide
Name the tripeptide that contains the amino acids L-cysteine, L-glutamate and glycine.
What is its role in the body.
Glutathione. The master antioxidant.
A lack of which amino acid most commonly limits glutathione production?
Cysteine
List 3 food sources of cysteine.
- Legumes
- Sunflower seeds
- Eggs
