Nucleic acids Flashcards
What are amino acids?
the monomers of polypeptides and proteins
What is the structure of an amino acid?
Each has an alpha carbon, attached to a carboxyl group, and amino group and a side chain (R group)
How many amino acids are there?
20
What is a carboxyl group?
An acid radical with the formula COOH
the functional group on amino acid molecules that contains a hydroxyl group (OH) and an oxygen double- bonded to a carbon atom
What is an animo group?
A group with the formula NH2
What is an alpha carbon?
The central point in the backbone of every amino acid. The alpha carbon is what connects the amino group to the acid carboxyl group
Aka the central carbon
How do amino acids differ?
The different R groups
What is an R group?
Can be any combination of atoms attached to central carbon
Precise combinations of atoms/molecules/ions give each r group unique chemical properties
What is the bond between the carboxyl and amine?
peptide (type of covalent [sharing electrons] bond) specific to a covalent bond between two amino acids
What is the primary structure?
The sequence of amino acids
What is the secondary structure?
formation of alpha helices and beta pleated sheets
What is the tertiary structure?
functional 3D structure of the protein
What is the quaternary structure?
composed of 2 or more polypeptide chains
How is there functional diversity in proteins?
the ability to create many combinations of amino acids and polypeptide chains of differing lengths, thereby allowing proteins to fold into different functional structures
What sugar does RNA have?
ribose sugar
