Lecture 4 - Amino Acids Flashcards
A process where mRNA is decoded by the ribosome and tRNA is used to produce a specific amino acid chain, or polypeptide, that will later fold into an active protein
Translation
Creates a complementary RNA copy (mRNA) of a sequence of DNA (gene).
Transcription
What defines the function of the proteins?
3D structure of proteins
Molecules that contain both acidic and basic groups and will exist mostly as zwitterions in a certain range of pH
Ampholyte molecules
What is the charge on an amino acid dependent on?
The pH of the solution
What is the simplest amino acid?
Glycine
Ways to classify amino acids include what?
Size and shape Charge(s) Polarity Hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity Aromaticity Conformation Propensity to adopt a particular conformation in proteins
How to read the CORN law?
Looking along the H-C (alpha) bond, with H atom closest to you and reading clockwise, the groups attached to the alpha C spell CORN
Name the amino acids with nonpolar, aliphatic R groups
Glycine Alanine Proline Valine Leucine Isoleucine Methionine
Which amino acids tend to cluster together on the inside of proteins, stabilizing protein structure via hydrophobic interactions?
Ala
Val
Leu
Ile
Name the amino acids with aromatic R groups
Phenylalanine
Tyrosine
Tryptophan
Name the amino acids with polar, uncharged R groups
Serine Threonine Cysteine Asparagine Glutamine
Which amino acids ionizes the side chain at relatively high pH?
Cysteine
Name the amino acids with positively charged R groups
They are the basic amino acids
Lysine
Arginine
Histidine
Name the amino acids with negatively charged R groups
They are the acidic amino acids
Aspartate
Glutamate
