December 22, 2024, 03:50:45 AM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: Enzyme Questions  (Read 4533 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

puzzled

  • Guest
Enzyme Questions
« on: April 01, 2005, 09:34:43 PM »
I'm stuck on some questions and seeking for help.  I have a polypeptide in the sequence Tyrosine-Asparagine-Threonine-Lysine-Cysteine.  All I have is a table of the pKa values for theseamino acids.  I have an alpha-COOH pKa and an alpha-NH3+ pKa for all of them.  How do u find the pH range for this polypeptide?  Henderson-Hausselbauch equation doesn't work, cuz i don't have enough info.  I've found the pI (isoelectric point) for all of them and found the range of them, but i don't think that's the pH range...due to what my teacher posted on an online forum.
He says: Look at the pka values of the side chains. Given a pH decide protonation/deprotonation. If you are given a structure, narrow the pH range by looking at protonated/deprotonated components.

2 more problems involve this polypeptide.
*At what pH would you most likely find the highest conc. for the zwitterions?  I just averaged the pI values of all the side chains...is that right?
*If an isoleucine amino acid was added to this polypeptide, which end would it be added and what are the products?  The pI is 6.05 for Isoleucine, so I thought it would go next to cysteine, but then i have no idea how to do this problem.

I know this sounds overwhelming, but I desperately need help, and the teacher has not taught us any of this.  I would greatly appreciate some help...

Offline Mitch

  • General Chemist
  • Administrator
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5298
  • Mole Snacks: +376/-3
  • Gender: Male
  • "I bring you peace." -Mr. Burns
    • Chemistry Blog
Re:Enzyme Questions
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2005, 10:15:08 PM »
You can find out how to do it by reading the first chapter of any Biochemistry book. Have you taken Biochemistry, yet?
Most Common Suggestions I Make on the Forums.
1. Start by writing a balanced chemical equation.
2. Don't confuse thermodynamic stability with chemical reactivity.
3. Forum Supports LaTex

puzzled

  • Guest
Re:Enzyme Questions
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2005, 10:38:45 PM »
I'm in high school...taking Advanced Chemistry...and our textbook isn't Biochemistry specific.

Sponsored Links