Amino Acids, Proteins, and Enzymes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to amino acids, proteins, and enzymes, as discussed in the provided lecture notes.

Substrate

The molecule upon which an enzyme acts.

Enzyme-Substrate Complex

The intermediate formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate.

Peptide Bond

The amide bond formed between the carboxylate group of one amino acid and the ammonium group of another.

Hydrophobic

Referring to molecules or parts of molecules that repel water.

Hydrophilic

Referring to molecules or parts of molecules that attract water.

Dipeptide

A peptide formed from two amino acids.

Tripeptide

A peptide formed from three amino acids.

Essential Amino Acids

Amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained through diet.

Primary Structure

The specific sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide or protein.

Secondary Structure

Local folded structures that form within a polypeptide due to interactions between atoms in the backbone.

Tertiary Structure

The overall three-dimensional shape of a protein formed by the interactions of R groups.

Quaternary Structure

The structure formed when two or more polypeptide chains associate to form a functional protein.

Denaturation

The process of disrupting the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures of proteins.

Active Site

The region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Competitive Inhibition

Inhibition that occurs when a competing molecule resembles the substrate and binds to the active site.

Noncompetitive Inhibition

Inhibition that occurs when an inhibitor binds to an enzyme at a location other than the active site.

Irreversible Inhibition

Permanent loss of enzyme activity due to a covalent modification of the enzyme.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak attraction between a hydrogen atom attached to a highly electronegative atom and another electronegative atom.

Salt Bridge

A type of noncovalent interaction between oppositely charged side chains.

Oxytocin

A peptide hormone involved in childbirth and lactation.

Vasopressin

A peptide hormone that regulates water retention in the body.

Hydrophobic Pocket

A region in the enzyme's active site that accommodates hydrophobic side chains.