Chapter 7: Ligand Binding and Hemoglobin Flashcards
In a protein:ligand interaction, what does the ‘free’ state describe?
The state in which the protein (enzyme) and ligand (substrate) are still separated.
In a protein:ligand interaction, what does the ‘bound’ state describe?
When the protein (enzyme) and ligand (substrate) have bound together
What is a ligand?
A substrate
Any molecule that binds to a protein
What is an apoprotein?
A protein (enzyme) that has an empty binding site
What is a holoprotein also called?
Holoenzyme
What is a holoenzyme also called?
Holoprotein
What is a holoprotien/holoenzyme?
A protein (enzyme) that is bound to a ligand (has an occupied binding site)
What is a cofactor?
A non-chemical components that an enzyme needs in order to become catalytic
What are the 5 types of bonds that can occur between the proteins (enzymes) and ligands (substrates)?
H bonds Hydrophobic interactions Electrostatic interactions Dipole-Dipole interactions (Rarely) covalent interactions
What are the two models for describing how proteins interact with ligands?
- Lock and key model
2. Induced fit model
Which interaction model is more suitable for living things: lock and key model or induced fit model?
Induced fit
Why is ‘induced fit’ model more compatible with life than ‘lock and key’ model?
Lock and key model is generally irreversible. Living things need interactions to be reversible.
Why is the lock and key model of protein:ligand interaction regarded as irreversible?
The fit between the protein and ligand is so perfect/energetically favorable that breaking the bind isn’t worth the extra energy cost.
What is an ES complex?
What you call it when the active site in the protein/enzyme is bound to the ligand/substrate
What does ‘ligand specificity’ describe?
THe fact that proteins can recognize specific ligands
What does hexokinase do?
It converts glucose to glucose phosphate
Why did Dr. Shimko tell us about hexokinase?
To show up how a protein/enzyme can change shape (conformation) and close around a ligand once the ligand binds to the protein’s active site.
Do binding events (like the one between hexokinase and its ligand) impact the corresponding protein folding funnel?
Yes
What are the 2 ways to describe/characterize an interaction between a protein and ligand?
stability (how strong the bond is)
Specificity (how specific/selective the protein is about which ligands it will bind to)
Why did Dr. Shimko tell us about alcohol dehydrogenase?
To show an example of how proteins with high specificity preferentially bind to some ligands rather than others
In this case, alcohol dehydrogenase can bind to ethanol, methanol, AND isopropanol, but prefers and works fastest with ethanol
Does a large Kd mean an ES complex is strong or weak?
A large Kd means the bond holding together the ES complex is weak
Kd = reactants over complex Kd = free state over bound state
Does a small Kd mean an ES complex is strong or weak?
Strong
Kd = reactants over complex Kd = free state over bound state
What does the Kd represent in terms of ligand concentration?
Kd tells you the concentration of ligand you need in order to convert half a sample of proteins from their free state to their bound state
If the Kd is low, it means you must’ve needed a lot of ligand in order to get half of your protein bound (because the affinity/tendency of partners to stick and stay stuck is poor)
(Conceptually), what are Ka and Kd measures of?
Affinity (binding strength); The tendency of a molecule to stick to its binding partner and stay stuck
The binding strength between a protein and its ligand
True or false: the higher the binding affinity between binding partners, the lower concentrations you will need to facilitate binding.
True.
Because the binds stay bound when they collide rather than falling apart and having to find each other/collide again in order to get a good bind.
True or false: the higher the affinity, the LOWER the Kd.
True
You may as well think of Kd as K divorce. Why?
Because Kd is an expression of how many bound proteins end up free (‘divorced’) proteins
Having a low Kd is like having a low divorce rate; means the couples are strong.
What range of Kd values are so strong that the corresponding bonds can scarcely be broken without denaturing the protein?
Kd = 10^-9 M and lower
Anything around the nanomolar range and lower
What range of Kd values is ideal for making drugs?
Kd around the “nanomolar to subnomolar range”
what is metabolic catalysis?
the break down of fuel sources
why is oxygen transport important?
All the cells in the body need molecular oxygen, but not all of them are exposed to molecular oxygen. The oxygen must thus be spread around the body.
why do we need oxygen in metabolic catalysis?
We need it to maximize production of ATP (energy)
What is the major role of hemoglobin in the body?
It is the primary transporter for oxygen
What is the main (structural) difference between myoglobin and hemoglobin?
Myoglobin is a monomer and hemoglobin is a tetramer
Is myoglobin an alpha helix or a beta sheet?
(Primarily) Alpha Helix
What 2 main components make up a myoglobin molecule?
A heme ring surrounded by alpha helices