ORGANIC CHEM - BIOCHEMISTRY
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What is an amino acid?
a monomer that makes up a protein
What is the structure of an amino acid?
H2N - CH(R) - COOH
What is a zwitterion?
a species with 1 part that is +vely charged and 1 part tha’ts -vely charged
What does the zwitterion of an amino acid look like?
H3N^+ - CH(R) - COO^- (R group doesn’t change)
What state are amino acids at room temp? why?
• solid • ionic attraction between +ve part of 1 zwitterion and -ve part of another
What does an amino acid look like in a strong acid?
H3N^+ - CH(R) - COOH (if R group contains NH2 it becomes NH3^+)
What does an amino acid look like in a strong base?
H2N - CH(R) - COO^-
What type of reaction joins amino acids together?
condensation reaction
What bond is formed in a condensation reaction between amino acids?
peptide bond
What is formed when 2 amino acids are joinged together?
dipeptide
What is formed when 3 amino acids are joined together?
tripeptide
What is formed when 4+ amino acids are joined together?
polypeptide chain
What is the primary structure of a protein?
the sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain
What is the secondary structure of a protein?
• polypeptide chain coiled into α-helix/folded into β-pleated sheet • held together by H bonds between the δ+ H of an NH group to the lone pair on the O of a CO group • doesn’t involve R groups
What is the tertiary structure of a protein?
• how the α-helix/β-pleated sheet folds into a specific structure • held together by interactions (disulfide bridges, ionic attractions, H bonds and VDW forces) between R groups
What is the quaternary structure of a protein?
• several polypeptide chains bonded together • held together by interactions between R groups
Order these interactions from strongest to weakest: - disulfide bridges - ionic bonds - H bonds - VDW forces
• ionic bonds and disulfide bridges (strongest) • H bonds • VDW forces (weakest)
How are proteins hydrolysed?
reflux with moderately conc. HCl
What property of an enzyme’s active site means it is specific to the shape of its substrate?
stereospecific
What is meant by an enzyme’s active site being stereospecific?
if the substrate is chiral only 1 enantiomer/optical isomer will be able to bind the active site of an enzyme
Describe the structure of DNA
2 polynucleotide chains twisted into double helix
What are the components of a nucleotide?
• phosphate group • deoxyribose sugar • nitrogenous base (1 of 4)
What are the 4 types of bases?
• adenine (A) • thymine (T) • guanine (G) • cytosine (C)
What base pairs are complementary?
• A + T • C + G