3-3 Amino Acid Localization in Proteins. Amino acids tend to be localized either

Question

3-3 Amino Acid Localization in Proteins. Amino acids tend to be localized either in the interior or on the exterior of a globular proteirn molecule, depending on their relative affinities for water. (a) For each of the following pairs of amino acids, choose the one that is more likely to be found in the interior of a protein mol- ecule, and explain why: alanine: glycine glutamate: aspartate methionine: cysteine tyrosine: phenylalanine (b) Explain why cysteine residues with free sulfhydryl groups tend to be localized on the exterior of a protein molecule, whereas those involved in disulfide bonds are more likely to be buried in the inte- rior of the molecule

Explanation / Answer

3-3
a. The pair of amino acids that is more likely to be found in the interior of a protein molecule is Methionine, cysteine. Both of them are hydrophobic in nature and tends to hide away from the aqueous environment and is usually found on the interior side.
b. Forming a disulfide bond removes the hydrogen atom from the SH group which results in the formation of S-S bond which is highly nonpolar and tends to be on the inner side of the protein molecule.

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