Isoelectric Point and Amino Acids

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Questions and Answers

What is the isoelectric point (pI) of alanine?

  • 9.1
  • 7.0
  • 5.7 (correct)
  • 3.4

Which term is used to describe substances that can act both as an acid or a base?

  • Polyprotic
  • Amphoteric (correct)
  • Cationic
  • Zwitterionic

What group do amino acids have attached to the α-carbon at physiologic pH?

  • – COO– and – NH3+ (correct)
  • – NH2 and – NH3+
  • – COOH and – NH2
  • – OH and – SH

Which equation is useful for calculating the abundance of ionic forms of acidic and basic drugs?

<p>Henderson-Hasselbalch equation (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do uncharged drugs pass through membranes more readily?

<p>Due to not repelling with the lipid bilayer (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does a weak acid, like aspirin, typically permeate through membranes?

<p>As the protonated form (HA) (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the isoelectric point of alanine?

<p>7.0 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which form of alanine predominates in solution when the pH equals pK1?

<p>Form II (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, what does pK1 represent for alanine?

<p>pKa for the carboxyl group (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

At what pH value will the amino group of alanine start dissociating significantly?

<p>3.5 (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which pair can serve as a buffer in the pH region around pK2 for alanine?

<p>-NH3+/-NH2 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the pH is equal to pK2 for alanine?

<p>Form II and III are equal (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which rule determines the one-letter symbol for an amino acid if only one amino acid begins with a particular letter?

<p>Unique first letter (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the one-letter symbol for glycine based on the rules of assigning symbols to amino acids?

<p>G (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which amino acid receives the one-letter symbol based on its similar sounding name?

<p>Tryptophan (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which situation is the one-letter symbol for an amino acid assigned based on a letter close to the initial letter of the amino acid?

<p>When it is an unidentified amino acid (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What determines the acidic and basic properties of amino acids in aqueous solution?

<p>The pH of the solution (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which rule assigns B to Asx and Z to Glx as symbols for amino acids implying either aspartic acid or asparagine and either glutamic acid or glutamine?

<p>Priority based on common occurrence (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation

  • The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation can be used to analyze the dissociation of the carboxyl group of alanine, similar to acetic acid.
  • The fully protonated form of alanine is denoted as I, and the isoelectric form is denoted as II.

Dissociation of Carboxyl and Amino Groups

  • Alanine has two titratable groups: the carboxyl (– COOH) group and the amino (– NH3+) group.
  • The carboxyl group has a higher dissociation constant (K1) and is more acidic than the amino group.
  • The pKa for the carboxyl group is pK1, and the pKa for the amino group is pK2.

Buffer Pairs

  • The – COOH/– COO– pair can serve as a buffer in the pH region around pK1.
  • The – NH3 +/– NH2 pair can buffer in the region around pK2.

pH and pK

  • When pH = pK1, equal amounts of Forms I and II of alanine exist in solution.
  • When pH = pK2, equal amounts of Forms II and III are present in solution.
  • At neutral pH, alanine exists predominantly as the dipolar Form II, with a net charge of zero.

Isoelectric Point

  • The isoelectric point (pI) is the pH at which an amino acid is electrically neutral.
  • For an amino acid with two dissociable hydrogens, the pI is the average of pK1 and pK2.
  • The pI of alanine is 5.7.

Ampholytes

  • Amino acids are amphoteric, meaning they can act as either an acid or a base.
  • Amino acids with a negatively charged group (– COO–) and a positively charged group (– NH3+) are referred to as ampholytes.

Applications of Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation

  • The equation is useful for calculating the abundance of ionic forms of acidic and basic drugs.
  • Weak acids (HA) release a proton, forming a charged anion (A–), while weak bases (BH+) can release a H+.
  • Uncharged forms of drugs can pass through membranes more readily.

Amino Acid Abbreviations and Symbols

  • Each amino acid has a three-letter abbreviation and a one-letter symbol.
  • One-letter codes are determined by unique first letter, common occurrence, similar sounding names, and letter proximity to the initial letter.
  • Examples include I = isoleucine, G = glycine, F = phenylalanine, and W = tryptophan.

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