Chapter 4 Flashcards
How are amino acids categorized?
By chemical properties
How many common amino acids are there?
20
What is a primary structure?
A Polypeptide: Chain-like sequence of amino acids bound with peptide bonds
What forms the peptide bond? What is released as a byproduct?
Peptide (covalent) bond forms between C of one amino acid and N of another. H2O is released as a biproduct
What elements is the Amino Group composed of?
NH2
(H3N+ on left side)
What elements is the Carboxyl Group composed of?
COOH
(COO- on right side)
Why is the Methionine R Group important?
AUG is start codon that codes for Methionine Amino Acid!
What are the Nonpolar, Aliphatic R Groups? What distinguishes them?
ALIPHATIC: lots of single bonds with Carbon and Hydrogen -> HYDROPHOBIC
- Glycine
- Alanine
- Proline* (extra cov. bond)
- Valine
- Leucine
- Isoleucine
- Methionine (AUG -> Met!)
- NO PLACE FOR AGGREGATION OF ELECTRONS
What are the Highly Polar, Negatively Charged R Groups? What distinguishes them?
HYDROPHILIC
- Aspartate
- Glutamate
- ACIDIC (-) SIDE CHAINS WITH COO- CARBOXYL ATTATCHED
What are the Highly Polar, Positively Charged R Groups? What distinguishes them?
HYDROPHILIC
- Histidine
- Lysine
- Arginine
- BASIC (+) SIDE CHAINS
What are the Polar, Uncharged R Groups? What distinguishes them?
HYDROPHILIC
- Serine
- Threonine
- Cysteine
- Asparagine
- Glutamine
- CAN HYDROGEN BOND BECAUSE OF -OH AND -NH2 GROUPS
What are the Nonpolar, Aromatic R Groups? What distinguishes them?
AROMATIC: Rings with alternating Carbon double bonds -> HYDROPHOBIC
- Phenylalanine
- Tyrosine
- Tryptophan
- NO PLACE FOR AGGREGATION OF ELECTRONS
How are amino acids connected?
In a polypeptide chain
What does the linear sequence of a polypeptide chain have?
- amino terminus
(or N-terminus) - carboxyl terminus
(or C-terminus)
How do you read an amino acid sequence? Which is designated as the “starting point” of a protein sequence?
From N-terminus (left)
To C-terminus (right)
- N-terminus is starting point