For each of the following interactions, tell me two amino acids that can form that interaction (between their R groups) at a pH = 7 and sketch the interaction. i. ii. H-bond Charge-charge interaction
H-bonds and charge-charge interactions are 2 ways in which the sidechains (R group) of amino acids can interact.
H-bond : A H-bond is simply a Hydrogen atom shared between two highly electronegative atoms. The only atoms with high enough electronegativity to form a H-bond are oxygen, nitrogen and fluorine; sometimes sulfur atoms can also attain enough electronegativity to participate in H-bonds. In order to form a H-bond between the sidechain groups of 2 amino acids, one of the sidechain should act as H-bond donor and the other sidechain should act as H-bond acceptor. The H-bond donor is composed of an electronegative atom bonded to a hydrogen atom, for example a hydroxyl group (OH) . The H-bond acceptor is a electronegative atom like O, N, F or S .
Charge-charge interaction : Sidechains of some amino acids are charged at certain pH values. If the charges are alike (both positive or both negative) on the two sidechains , then they repel. If the charges are opposite to each other (a negative and a positive charge), then they attract each other.
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