COLOR REACTIONS OF PROTEINS AND AMINO ACIDS Flashcards
1 ml = ???
20 drops
Few drops = ???
3 to 5 drops
Unspecified time for heating
5 mins
the building blocks of proteins
Amino acids
The general reactions of amino acids are mostly due to the
presence of two functional groups namely __________ and __________
carboxyl (-COOH) group and amino (-NH2) group
limitation of reaction tests
some non-protein substances can also give positive response to some of the
color tests
- NH3
Amino group
- COOH
Carboxylic acid group
it is where all four species are attached
(alpha) α - carbon
Side chain
R - group
simplest amino acid
aminoacetic acid → glycine
two amino acids
Dipeptide
three amino acids
Tripeptide
50 amino acids or more
Proteins or polypeptides
General Steps in Peptide Bond Formation
- Amino group on one amino acid molecule + carboxyl group on another amino acid
- Release of a molecule of water and formation of a peptide bond.
- The reactive amino group on the left and the reactive carboxyl group on the right can still react with additional amino acids to lengthen the peptide.
- The process can continue until thousands of units have joined, resulting in large proteins.
pH at which an amino acid exists as a Zwitterion
Isoelectric point
hydrogen is in excess
acid solution
OHion is in excess
alkaline solution
Product of internal transfer of a hydrogen ion from the -COOH group to the -NH2 group to leave an ion with both a negative charge and a positive charge.
zwitterion
isoelectric points: Acidic amino acids
aspartic acid (2.8), glutamic acid (3.2)
isoelectric points: Neutral amino acids
(5.0 to 6.3)
isoelectric points: Basic amino acids
lysine (9.7), arginine (10.8), histidine (7.6)
base + amino acid in zwitterion form
Amino acid as an acid
acid + amino acid in zwitterion
Amino acid as base
zwitterion form:
ionized form (-COO-) of carboxylic group - base
ionized form (-NH3+) of amino group - acid
(alpha) α - carbon other name
chiral
four different constituents/species and that the α - carbon is asymmetric.
chiral
α - carbon shape
asymmetric → two possible, non-superimposable, mirror images of the amino acids.
Clockwise rotation
“dextrorotatory”
Counter clockwise:
“levorotatory”
a pair of molecules that exist in two forms that are mirror images of one another but cannot be superimposed one upon the other.
Enantiomers
Enantiomeric molecules
optical property/optical activity → ability to rotate the plane of polarized light
All common amino acids are the _________
L-enantiomer
capacity to interact with water
Polarity
Classification of Amino Acids Based on Polarity
(1) nonpolar,
(2) polar-neutral,
(3) polar-acidic, and
(4) polar-basic.
hydrophobic (“water-fearing”); not attracted to water molecules
Nonpolar Amino Acids
Nonpolar Amino Acids
- Glycine
- Alanine
- Valine
- Leucine
- Isoleucine
- Proline
- Phenylalanine
- Methionine
- Tryptophan
In solution at physiological pH - side chain of this amino acid is neither acidic nor basic.
Polar neutral amino acids
More soluble in water than the nonpolar amino acids as, in each case, the R group present can form hydrogen bond to water
Polar neutral amino acids
Polar neutral amino acids
- Serine
- Cysteine
- Threonine
- Asparagine
- Glutamine
- Tyrosine
In solution at physiological pH - side chain of this amino acid bears a negative charge; the side-chain carboxyl group has lost its hydrogen atom.
Polar acidic amino acid
Polar acidic amino acid
- Aspartic acid
- Glutamic Acid
In solution at physiological pH - side chain of this amino acid bears a positive charge; the nitrogen atom of the amino group has accepted a proton.
Polar basic amino acid
Polar basic amino acid
- Histidine
- Lysine
- Arginine
side chain is H or alkyl (nonpolar)
- Glycine
- Alanine
- Valine
- Leucine
- Isoleucine
- Phenylalanine
- Proline
side chain contains an -OH group (hydroxyl)
- Serine
- Threonine
- Tyrosine
side chain contains sulfur
- Cysteine
- Methionine
side chain contains nonbasic nitrogen
- Asparagine
- Glutamine
- Tryptophan
Side chain is acidic
- Aspartic acid
- Glutamic acid
side chain is basic
- Lysine
- Arginine
- Histidine