Midterm 2 Flashcards
What is the primary structure of proteins?
The sequence of amino acids that are covalently linked via peptide bonds.
What is the secondary structure of proteins? What stabilizes it?
The local spatial arrangement of the polypeptide backbone to give rise the alpha helices and beta pleated sheets via hydrogen bonds.
What is the tertiary structure of proteins? What stabilizes it?
The unique 3D conformation of a protein including the entire polypeptide (side chains) via hydrophobic interaction (non polar chains don’t like H2O while polar ones are exposed to it), electrostatic interactions (charges and dipoles), hydrogen bonds, and covalent bonds (disulfide bridges).
What is the quaternary structure of proteins? What stabilizes it?
The assembly of two or more polypeptide chains to form a larger supramolecular complex via hydrophobic interaction (non polar chains don’t like H2O while polar ones are exposed to it), electrostatic interactions (charges and dipoles), hydrogen bonds, and covalent bonds (disulfide bridges).
How are multi-subunit (quaternary) proteins connected?
Non-covalently associated via backbones.
Oligomer
2 or more identical subunits (protomers).
Why do multi-subunit proteins occur?
- Less chance of error if you synthesize in smaller units then join together afterwards
- Swapping subunits in and out give more freedom, allowing damage to be restored efficiently
- The interactions regulate the biological function
- More subunits mean more complex functionalities
Why can’t a peptide bond rotate?
Due to the resonance of a double bond character reducing the bonds and giving a rigid, planar structure.
What is a trans formation of a peptide bond?
Both alpha carbons are on the different sides of the peptide bond (psi = 180 degrees).
What is the cis formation of a peptide bond?
Both alpha carbons are on the same side of the peptide bond (psi = 0 degrees).
Why is the cis conformation less stable and energetically unfavorable compared to the trans conformation?
Due to steric interference of the amino acid groups of these alpha carbons existing close to one another.
Why is steric interference reduced in P (proline) residues?
90% of them follow the trans formation whereas the other 10% form a cis peptide bond
What is the phi bond?
Alpha C – N
What is the psi bond?
Alpha C – C
What are the angles when the peptide backbone is fully extended?
Phi = psi = 180 degrees
What do ramachandran plots show?
The allowed conformations (black or blue) of a polypeptide and sterically forbidden ones (white or beige). Also shows the extreme limits of unfavourable atomic contacts (green or spots of black).
Why is there asymmetry in ramachandran plots?
Due to the chirality of amino acids.
Why does G have the greatest range of phi and psi angle in the ramachandran plots?
Least amount of steric hindrance by its R group.
Why does P have a limited range of phi values? What are they?
Due to its cyclic side chain to a range of -35 to -85 degrees.
What do amino acids with unbranched side chains have similar ramachandran plots to?
Alanine
What happens to branched amino acids in ramachandran plots?
Those like V, I, and T have a more limited range than A.
What is an alpha helix?
A right handed coil when viewed from the N terminal that has a repeating unit of a single turn of helix every 5.4 A.
How do backbones interact in the alpha helix?
H bonds form between the amide group (donor) and carbonyl group (acceptor due to two lone pairs).
What does each turn of an alpha helix include?
3.6 amino acids with the R groups pointed outside and downwards.
How does the core exist in an alpha helix?
Tightly packed due to van der waals forces.
What does the dipole in an alpha helix depend on?
The longer the helix, the greater the dipole due to the H bond arrangement allowing a free NH group and COOH group.
How many H bonds hold one turn of an alpha helix?
3-4 H bonds
When do H bonds occur in an alpha helix?
Every fourth nitrogen group from a carbonyl.
What is an L amino acid?
When H is pointed backwards, from COOH - R group - NH2 (CORN) is counterclockwise.
What is a D amino acid?
When H is pointed backwards from COOH - R group - NH2 (CORN) is clockwise.
How must D and L amino acids occur in a helices?
Either all L or all D amino acids since one substitution will disrupt the polypeptide.
What is a left handed helix?
Left hand can curl fingers in the direction of the coil and point thumb up
What is a right handed helix?
The right hand can curl fingers in the direction of the coil and point thumb up.
What does the formation of a helix depend on?
Sequence dependent, thus a long block of D + E or K + R can destabilize the helix due to repulsion between like charges OR steric bulk/shape like C, T, S, N. Stabilizing occurs between maximum hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions.
Where do side chains of amino acids residues interact in an alpha helix?
3 to 4 amino acids apart
Why is proline bad for an alpha helix?
Too rigid so no N-H group to participate in an H bond.
Why is glycine bad for an alpha helix?
Too flexible where polyglycine coils differently.
What are beta pleated sheets formed by?
H bonding between amide and carbonyl groups of neighboring polypeptide chains.
Antiparallel beta pleated sheet
Neighbouring chains run in opposite directions giving straight H bonds.
Why are H bonds in antiparallel beta pleated sheets stronger than those in parallel ones?
Due to being more linear = stronger
Parallel beta pleated sheet
Neighbouring chains run in the same direction with bent H bonds between strands.
What are the phi and psi angles of a beta pleated sheet? WHY?
-180, and 180 degrees do to being flat and fully extended.
What is the repeat distance in antiparallel beta pleated sheets? Parallel?
7 A versus 5.6 A (tighter angles).
How do beta pleated sheets look?
A zig zag pattern that follows a right handed twist.
What is a beta turn?
Occurs between antiparallel strands where it’s a hairpin loop.
What is a crossover?
Common between parallel strands.
How do the beta bends differ?
Based on a 180 degrees flip of the amid bond between residues 2 and 3.
Type 3 beta bend
3rd residue is glycine where it residues steric clash.
Where does the H bond occur in beta bends?
Between residue 1 and 4
Where are proline residues found?
In beta bends at residue 2 based as cis isomers as they form a natural turn in the direction of the peptide.
How does the newly synthesized protein folds?
To yield the thermodynamically most stable protein with the lowest G.
Conformation
Spatial arrangement of an atom within a protein that can be altered by rotation about a single bond.