Biochem Finals Pt.2

It gives the most energy

Nucleic acids do not generate energy

Building blocks of proteins

Amino acids are linked together by:

• simplest amino acid • no optical activity • precursor for hemoglobin synthesis

• next simplest amino acid

• can be converted to tyrosine using phenylalanine hydrxoylase • Deficiency of enzyme: Phenylketonuria

High levels of phenylalanine can lead to the accumulation of phenyl ketones which will be distributed to the urine (Phenylketonuria - mousy odor urine)

• can be converted to catecholamines (E,N,D) via the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase • can be converted to melanin (brown pigment in skin) using the enzyme tyrosinase

Low melanin levels (because of tyrosinase deficiency) results in:

• converted to serotonin (happy hormone) • converted to melatonin (sleep-wake cycle) • converted to Niacin (B3)

B3 Deficiency will lead to pellagra-like symptoms (4Ds) : Diarrhea, Dementia, Dermatitis, Death

The inability to absorb tryptophan; exhibits 4D symptoms

• for glutathione (natural antioxidant) synthesis • Dimer: Cystine

• contains sulfur • well known start codon (needed for protein synthesis)

Basic Amino Acids

Acidic Amino Acids

The only amino acid without an amino group; it has an imino group

General test for proteins (amino acids)

Amidic Amino Acids (Neutral)

Alcoholic Amino Acids

Branched Chain Amino Acids - degraded by Branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase

Absence of enzyme alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase

Structural proteins for skin and cartilage