C11 Amino Acids & Proteins Flashcards
Proteins
single most important group of organic compounds associated with living organisms
Lipids
water insoluble fatty molecules- require proteins in order to be transported through the plasma…lipoproteins
Amino acids
building blocks of proteins
DNA
very large molecule that contains biochemical codes to make proteins from amino acids
Genomics
study of DNA
Genome
all the DNA in a living organism
Nucleotides
2 purine bases (adenine and guanine)
2 pyrimidine bases (cytosine & thymine)
Adenine bonds with?
Thymine
Guanine bonds with?
Cytosine
Three groups of consecutive bases that provide the code for an amino acid?
codon
Sequence of DNA that provides the code for an entire protein?
Gene
When cells divide, the DNA condenses in visible structures called?
chromosomes
Each nucleated cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes, each representing a pair of DNA molecules which are joined at a central?
centromere
Human DNA contains how many genes?
20-25,000
DNA provides a code for the creation of?
mRNA
How is mRNA created?
actions of RNA polymerase and a promoter protein (Transcription)
What is translation?
When mRNA goes into the ribosomes where it meets up with individual amino acids and assembles them together to create proteins
What are DNA or NAT probes?
lab techniques that allow for the detection of specific nucleotide sequences
Advantages of DNA probes and NAT?
extremely specific, sensitive, and faster than routine culture
Disadvantages of DNA probes and NAT?
extreme sensitivity can cause problems if contaminated with outside sources, difficult and expensive techniques
All proteins are composed of?
amino acids
How many naturally occurring amino acids are there?
20
Aminoacidopathies?
uncommon, inherited, genetic disorders of amino acid metabolism
Most common aminoacidopathy?
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Phenylketonuria
autosomal recessive (requires 2 defective genes from both parents), absence of phenylalanine hydroxylase… si cannot be converted to tyrosine, it accumulates and is converted to phenylpyruvic acid (which is toxic to newborns and kids resulting in brain damage and mental retardation) damage begins 2-3 wks after birth, treated with dietary restrictions
Guthrie Test
Small disk of filter (PKU) paper is punched out and placed on agar plate containing Bacillus subtillis & B2 thienylalanine, the agar gel is able support bacterial growth but B2 thienylalanine inhibits it, though with extra phenylalanine bacteria can grow, growth is proportional to amount of phenylalanine in serum
Primary (Protein conformation)
amino acid sequence
Secondary (protein conformation)
winding, twisting of the amino acid chain, regulated by hydrogen bonding between different locations on the chain