Amino Acids and Proteins
Amino Acids and Proteins
Amino Acids and Proteins
Amino Acids
&
Proteins
H2N C COOH
|
R
When R is not H, the alpha carbon
is asymetric, giving rise to isomers.
R-COOH R-COO- + H+
R-NH3+ R-NH2 + H+
+H N CH2 COO-
3
pH=1:
pH=7:
pH=12:
pH=1: +H
3N CH2 - COOH
pH=7:
pH=12:
pH=1: +H
3N CH2 - COOH
pH=7: +H
3N CH 2 COO -
pH=12:
pH=1: +H
3N CH2 - COOH
pH=7: +H
3N CH 2 COO -
Threonine
Tryptophan a
Valine
Arginine b
Histidine b
a Aromatic b Probably essential
Definition:
Amino acid polymers of 50 amino acids are called
polypeptides, peptides, oligopeptides, etc.
Amino acids polymer of >50 amino acids are called proteins.
Biochemistry 3070 Amino Acids & Proteins 29
Biochemistry 3070 Amino Acids & Proteins 30
An example of a dipeptide is the sweetener
Aspartame.
Other names include:
NutraSweet
Equal
Tri-Sweet
Sanecta
IUPAC Name:
N-L- Aspartyl-L-phenylalanine 1-methyl ester
Abbreviated Structure:
Asp Phe - OCH3
Experiment #1:
1. Add both urea and -mercaptoethanol to a solution of enzyme.
Activity is lost.
2. Remove urea by dialysis; then remove -mercaptoethanol by dialysis.
Activity is recovered 100%!
Experiment #2:
1. Add both urea and -mercaptoethanol to a solution of enzyme.
Activity is lost.
2. Remove -mercaptoethanol by dialysis; then remove urea by dialysis.
Only ~1% of activity is recovered. N = 82 = 64, 1/64 ~ 1%
Experiment #3:
1. Add -mercaptoethanol to the solution from Exp.#2. Then, remove
urea by dialysis;
2. Finally, remove -mercaptoethanol by dialysis. Activity is recovered
100%!
Credits: Most of the diagrams used in these slides were taken from Stryer, et.al, Biochemistry, 5 th Ed., Freeman
Press, Chapters 3-4 (Our course textbook).