Textbook Question
Identify the location and type of charge on the hexapeptide Lys-Ser-Asp-Cys-His-Tyr at each of the following pH values:
c. pH=7
8
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Ch. 21 - Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins
Bruice8th EditionOrganic ChemistryISBN: 9780135213711
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Remembering General Chemistry: Electronic Structure and Bonding (Part 1)31
- Ch. 1 - Remembering General Chemistry: Electronic Structure and Bonding (Part 2)65
- Ch. 2 - Acids and Bases: Central to Understanding Organic Chemistry84
- Ch. 3 - An Introduction to Organic Compounds:Nomenclature, Physical Properties, and Structure183
- Ch. 4 - Isomers: The Arrangement of Atoms in Space121
- Ch. 5 - Alkenes: Structure, Nomenclature, and an Introduction to Reactivity • Thermodynamics and Kinetics83
- Ch. 6 - The Reactions of Alkenes • The Stereochemistry of Addition Reactions175
- Ch. 7 - The Reactions of Alkynes • An Introduction to Multistep Synthesis119
- Ch. 8 - Delocalized Electrons: Their Effect on Stability, pKa, and the Products of a Reaction • Aromaticity and Electronic Effects: An Introduction to the Reactions of Benzene148
- Ch. 9 - Substitution and Elimination Reactions of Alkyl Halides212
- Ch. 10 - Reactions of Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides, Amines, and Sulfur-Containing Compounds131
- Ch. 11 - Organometallic Compounds60
- Ch. 12 - Radicals90
- Ch. 13 - Mass Spectrometry; Infrared Spectroscopy; UV/Vis Spectroscopy62
- Ch. 14 - NMR Spectroscopy95
- Ch. 15 - Reactions of Carboxylic Acids and Carboxylic Acid Derivatives123
- Ch. 16 - Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones • More Reactions of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives141
- Ch. 17 - Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon101
- Ch. 18 - Reactions of Benzene and Substituted Benzenes144
- Ch. 19 - More About Amines • Reactions of Heterocyclic Compounds49
- Ch. 20 - The Organic Chemistry of Carbohydrates80
- Ch. 21 - Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins57
- Ch. 22 - Catalysis in Organic Reactions and in Enzymatic Reactions35
- Ch. 23 - The Organic Chemistry of the Coenzymes—Compounds Derived from Vitamins1
- Ch. 28 - Pericyclic Reactions58
Chapter 22, Problem 61
Explain the difference in the pKa values of the carboxyl groups of alanine, serine, and cysteine
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Understand that the pKa of a carboxyl group is influenced by the electronic environment around it. Electron-withdrawing groups lower the pKa by stabilizing the negative charge on the conjugate base, while electron-donating groups raise the pKa by destabilizing the conjugate base.
Step 2: Analyze the structures of alanine, serine, and cysteine. Alanine has a simple methyl group (-CH3) as its side chain, serine has a hydroxymethyl group (-CH2OH), and cysteine has a thiol group (-CH2SH). These side chains differ in their ability to influence the carboxyl group.
Step 3: Consider the electron-withdrawing or electron-donating effects of the side chains. The hydroxymethyl group in serine is slightly electron-withdrawing due to the electronegativity of oxygen, which can stabilize the conjugate base of the carboxyl group, lowering its pKa. The thiol group in cysteine is less electronegative than oxygen, so it has a weaker electron-withdrawing effect compared to serine, resulting in a slightly higher pKa for the carboxyl group.
Step 4: Compare alanine's methyl group, which is electron-donating and does not stabilize the conjugate base of the carboxyl group as effectively as the side chains of serine and cysteine. This results in alanine having the highest pKa among the three amino acids.
Step 5: Summarize the trend: Alanine has the highest pKa for its carboxyl group due to the electron-donating nature of its methyl side chain. Serine has a lower pKa due to the electron-withdrawing effect of its hydroxymethyl group, and cysteine has a pKa between alanine and serine due to the weaker electron-withdrawing effect of its thiol group.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
pKa and Acidity
pKa is a measure of the acidity of a compound, specifically the tendency of a proton to dissociate from an acid. Lower pKa values indicate stronger acids, meaning they more readily donate protons. Understanding pKa is crucial for comparing the acidity of functional groups, such as carboxyl groups in amino acids, which can influence their behavior in biological systems.
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Identifying pKa values
Carboxyl Group Structure
The carboxyl group (-COOH) is a functional group found in amino acids that contributes to their acidic properties. The structure consists of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom and single-bonded to a hydroxyl group. The presence of electronegative atoms and resonance stabilization in the carboxyl group affects its ability to donate protons, thus influencing the pKa values of different amino acids.
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Side Chain Effects on pKa
The side chains of amino acids can significantly influence the pKa of their carboxyl groups. For instance, the presence of electronegative atoms or functional groups in the side chain can stabilize or destabilize the carboxylate ion formed after deprotonation. In the case of alanine, serine, and cysteine, the differing side chains lead to variations in their pKa values, affecting their acidity and reactivity in biochemical processes.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Explain why amino acids, unlike most amines and carboxylic acids, are insoluble in diethyl ether.
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Textbook Question
Draw the form of aspartate that predominates at the following pH values:
d. pH=11.0
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Textbook Question
Draw the product obtained when a lysine side chain in a polypeptide reacts with maleic anhydride.
1
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Textbook Question
Identify the location and type of charge on the hexapeptide Lys-Ser-Asp-Cys-His-Tyr at each of the following pH values:
d. pH=12
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Textbook Question
What aldehydes are formed when the following amino acids are treated with ninhydrin?
b. leucine
c. arginine
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