Test 1 (Chapters 1-11) Flashcards
(311 cards)
What are Dr. Charlie Brenner’s two rules of Biochemistry?
- No violating physics and chemistry
2. Mutation and Selection
What are four classes of biomolecules?
- Proteins
- Nucleic acids
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
Which biomolecules are polymers?
Proteins, nucleic acids and some carbohydrates (polysaccharides)
What is the monomer of a protein?
Amino acids
What is the monomer of a nucleic acid?
Nucleotide
What is the monomer of a polysaccharide?
Monosaccharide
Who and when proposed the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology?
Francis Crick 1958
Describe the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology
Information flows from DNA -> RNA -> Protein:
- DNA (self) replicates
- DNA can be transcripted to RNA
- RNA can be translated to protein
What are three (3) fundamental weak interactions of molecules
- Ionic bonds
- Hydrogen bond
- van der Waal
What law is the basis of the Hydrophobic Effect?
Second Law of Thermodynamics
What does the hydrophobic effect result in?
Nonpolar molecules cluster together
Why does the hydrophobic effect occur?
- Adding a nonpolar molecule decreases entropy of water molecules surrounding nonpolar molecules.
- Nonpolar molecules cluster to reduce surface area, freeing water molecules and increasing entropy.
The properties of amino acid lended by R-group functional groups fall into what four (4) categories?
- hydrophobic amino acids w/ nonpolar R groups
- polar amino acids w/ neutral R group but uneven charge distribution
- Positively charged amino acid w/ R group that have positive charge at physiological pH
- Negatively charged amino acid w/ R group that have negative charge at physiological pH
What is physiological pH?
7.4
Describe the structure of an amino acid
An alpha carbon attached to a hydrogen, carboxylic acid group, amino group and a distinctive side chain (R group).
Which amino acid does not have a chiral carbon and why?
Glycine because it doesn’t have 4 different groups attached to alpha carbon.
Describe the ionic state of an amino acid at physiological pH
The alpha amino group is protonated at pH less than 8-9; The alpha carboxyl group is deprotonated at pH greater than 3.1; it is a zwitterion.
What is a zwitterion?
A molecule with a dipole, having a full positive and a full negative charge on separate atoms.
What is unique about the structure of proline?
It is the only amino acid whose side chain is connected to both the alpha carbon and the nitrogen.
How does proline’s structure affect the structure of proteins?
It’s ring structured makes the protein more conformationally restricted than other amino acids.
Compare the reactivity of the sulfhydryl (-SH) and the hydroxyl (-OH) groups (2 components)
- Sulfhydryl is much more reactive; can react with itself. (Disulfide bonds)
- Sulfhydryl is deprotonated at a lower pH
How are the structures of asparagine and glutamine related?
They both contain a terminal carboxamide.
What is unique about the R group of lysine and arginine?
They have dual properties; the side chain contains a 3 or 4 carbon chain (nonpolar) and is topped by a positive charge (polar)
Histidine’s structure gives it what unique chemical property?
It can be charged or uncharged at neutral pH depending on the environment.