Biomolecular interactions

Question 1

Van der Waals interactions

Answer 1

Caused by dipole-dipole interactions from fluctuations by the electron . Very weak on their own

Question 2

Hydrophobic effect

Answer 2

When the hydrophilic parts interact with the water and the hydrophobic ends are forced into the middle of the molecule and creates intra-molecular interactions

Question 3

Hydrogen bonds

Answer 3

Bond between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom like O or N

Question 4

Strength of the different types of bonds from strongest to weakest

Answer 4

Covalent, ionic, hydrogen, Van der waals

Question 5

Levinthal paradox

Answer 5

Proteins could have high number of possible configurations yet find their steady state quickly

Question 6

Define cooperativity

Answer 6

Binding of one molecule favors the binding of additional ones of the same type (such as binding of O to hemoglobin)

Question 7

First law of Thermo

Answer 7

Law of conservation of energy. Energy cannot be created or destroyed

Question 8

Second law of Thermo

Answer 8

Entropy always increases for an isolated system

Question 9

Third law of thermo

Answer 9

The entropy of a system approaches a constant value as the temperature goes to 0K

Question 10

Gouy-Chapman Theory

Answer 10

A theory that said the ions at an interface between a fluid and another surface were diffuse and allowed Maxwell-Boltzmann statistics to be applied

Question 11

Leonnard-Jones potential

Answer 11

(1/r)^6 = attractive part - long range (van der waals and disperson)
(1/r)^12 = repulsive part - estimate pauli repulsion of overlapping orbitals

sig = size of the molecule

4eps[ (sig/r)^12-(sig/r)^6]

Question 12

detailed balance

Answer 12

kinetic:
at equilibrium the forward and reverse processes are in equilibrium

A-> B and B-> A