Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Amino Acids
Flashcards for the 20 Amino Acids
15
Biology
Graduate
08/30/2009

Additional Biology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Glycine
Definition
H as side group. Symmetric. Can assume any conformation.
Term
Proline
Definition
No functional groups. Restricts N-Calpha rotation. Specifies bends and turns.
Term
Alanine, Valine, Isoleucine, Leucine
Definition
Aliphatic side chains. Essential to diet.
Term
Methionine.
Definition
Thioether side chain. Little reactivity. Essential only if not enough Cys in diet.
Term
Phenylalanine
Definition
Aromatic. Essential only if not enough Y in diet.
Term
Tryptophan.
Definition
Aromatic. Essential to diet. Hydrophobic, but can be partially buried.
Term
Aspartic Acid
Definition
Negatively charged. Nucleophile. Likes metals, esp. Ca and Mg ions. Reactive: ester linkages. Impart electrostatic charges.
Term
Glutamic Acid
Definition
One more methylene than Asp. Nucleophile. Likes metals, esp. Ca and Mg ions. Reactive: ester linkages. Imparts electrostatic charges to molecules.
Term
Lysine
Definition
Positively charged below pH 10. Nucleophile. Reactive. Acetylated easily (useful in histones). Essential to diet.
Term
Argine
Definition
Positively charged below 12. Versatile: hydrophobic and polar interactions. We make it, but not enough of it to grow. Likes H bonds.
Term
Histine
Definition
Positive side chain below 6. Nonprotonated N good nucleophile, likes metals, particularly Zinc. Active in enzyme sites--can accept and donate protons. Essential to diet.
Term
Serine
Definition
OH group on R. Not easily given up, but can be activated.
Term
Threonine
Definition
OH group. Can be activated. Additional asymmetric carbon (compared to S). Important in protein surface hydration. Essential to diet.
Term
Asparagine, Glutamine
Definition
H-bonding like backbone. Similar to acid form. Labile at pH extremes.
Term
Cysteine
Definition
Most reactive of all AAs. S group. 3D stability. Stable complexes with metals (particularly mercurials).
Supporting users have an ad free experience!