chapter 8: Protein structure Flashcards
A polymer’s secondary structure is defines as what?
the local conformation of its backbone
Secondary structures include what?
- helices
- Pleated sheets
- Beta turns
A peptides C-N bond is 0.13 shorter than what?
its N-C alpha single bond The
When does a peptides bond have a maximum resonance energy?
~85 kJ * mol^-1 is maximum resonance energy. It occurs when the peptide group is planar because it pi bonding over lap is maximized in its conformation.
peptides with few exceptions assume what conformation?
Trans
How are Carbon alpha atoms orientated if peptide is in trans ?
Successive alpha carbons are on opposite sides of the peptide joining them
Why do peptides not typically take a cis configuration?
Steric interference causes Cis conformation to be less stable than trans conformation
what is an energy barrier of a peptide bond to rotate about the C-C single bond.
The energy difference between the staggered and eclipsed conformation
Substitutents other than hydrogen exhibit greater steric interference thus do what?
increase the size of energy barrier due to their greater bulk.
What do “forbidden” conformations arise from?
collision of successive amide groups.
When are “forbidden” conformations allowed?
If twist of only a few degrees about the peptide bond are permitted
Gly is the only residue with out what? menaing?
only carbon without s beta carbon thus it is less sterically hindered than the other amino acid residues
Gly often occupies positions where?
Where a polypeptide backbone makes a sharp turn which with any other residue would be subject to sterical hinderance
Helices are what structure?
Secondary
If a polypeptide chain is twisted by the same amount of each of its alpha carbons it assumes what conformation?
Helices
In a helical polypeptide chain what does n stand for?
Number of peptide units per helical turn
In a helical polypeptide chain what does p stand for?
pitch; the distance the helix rises along its axis per turn..
Does a helix have chirality?
Yes; can be left handed or right handed
There is only one helical polypeptide conformation that simultaneously allowed conformation angles and a favorable hydrogen bonding pattern. What is it?
Alpha helix
For polypeptides made from L alpha amino sugars what type of helix do they have
Right handed alpha helix with 3.6 residues per turn
The hydrogen bonds on alpha helix are arranged how?
The peptide N-H bond of the nth residue points along the helix towards the peptide C=O group of the (n-4)th residue.
Alpha helices have strong hydrogen bonds with nearly optimum distance of what?
of 2.8 A of N…O
How is the core of an alpha helix?
tightly packed so the atoms are in van der waals contact across the helix thus maximizing association energies
What is one reason why a left handed helix has never been observed?
Its helical parameters are mildly forbidden; its side chains contact its polypeptide back bone too closely.