Cumulative Final Exam Flashcards
Non-Covalent Interactions
- Hydrogen Bonds
- Ionic/Electrostatic Interactions
- Hydrophobic Interactions
- Van der Waals Interactions
Van der Waals Interactions
Weak intermolecular interactions that occur between the dipoles of nearby electrically neutral molecules.
Hydrophobic Interactions
The tendency of hydrophoic molecules to pack closely together to mimize contact/interaction from water (when in an aqueous environment).
Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation
What causes the pH value to be less than the pKa value?
Buffer Systems
[Conjugate Base] < [Acid]
[A–] < [HA]
What causes the pH value to be greater than the pKa value?
Buffer Systems
[Conjugate Base] > [Acid]
[A–] > [HA]
What causes the pH value to be equal to the pKa value?
Buffer Systems
[Conjugate Base] = [Acid]
[A–] = [HA]
What is a state function?
A variable/function determined solely by the start conditions and end conditions (and not the path/speed of the process).
What does the ∆G value represent?
The magnitude of the driving force (energy magnitude) needed to pull/bring a system to its equilibrium point.
Equilibrium: ∆G = 0 kJ/mol
Equation: ∆G
Any State
Equation: ∆G°’
Equilibrium State
Relationship: ∆G° vs. Keq
- Keq > 1: ∆G is Negative (Reaction Favors Product Formation)
- Keq < 1: ∆G is Positive (Reaction Favors Reactant Formation)
- Keq = 1: ∆G is Zero (Reaction is at Equilibrium)
Why are living organisms never at equilibrium?
Living organisms require a constant input of energy to maintain homeostasis (which shifts the organism’s energy system away from equilibrium).
How is ADP + Pi more thermodynamically favorable than ATP?
- Charge Separation: The ADP + Pi form possesses fewer negative charges on the same compound.
- Solvation: The ADP + Pi form is better solvated by water due to the split into two negatively charged compounds.
- Resonance Stabilization: The ADP + Pi form possesses more resonance forms to increase stabilization via electron delocalization.
Energy Charge
A measure of the current energy state within a cell in terms of ATP, ADP, and AMP.
How does Hydrogen-bonding occur within an alpha helix?
Protein Secondary Structure
Hydrogen bonds form between the amino group (of one amino acid) and a carboxyl group (of another amino acid) four amino acids away.
The alpha helix Hydrogen bonds connect Residuen and Residuen+4.
Alpha Helix: Rise vs. Pitch
- Rise: The vertical distance between two consecutive amino acids.
- Pitch: The vertical distance spanning one complete turn of the helix.
Pitch = (Rise Distance) × (Number of Residues)
Why are antiparallel β sheets more stable than parallel β sheets?
Antiparallel β sheets possess more optimal lengths and geometries of Hydrogen bonds between adjacent β strands, which results in higher levels of structural stability.
Types of Side-Chain Interactions
Protein Tertiary Structure
- Hydrophobic Interactions
- Disulfide Bonds
- Electrostatic Interactions