Biochem 1

• What is the main focus of biochemistry?

  The study of chemical processes in living organisms
• What are proteins primarily involved in?

  Biological processes in living organisms
• What are the main functions of proteins?

  • Antibodies: Identify and neutralize pathogens
  • Contractile proteins: Movement (e.g., Actin, Myosin)
  • Enzymes: Catalyze biochemical reactions (e.g., Lactase)
  • Hormonal proteins: Coordinate bodily activities (e.g., Insulin)
  • Structural proteins: Provide support (e.g., Keratin, Collagen)
  • Transport proteins: Move molecules (e.g., Hemoglobin)
• What is the process of translation in protein synthesis?

  RNA is translated into protein

  
• What are the steps of translation?

  1. Initiation: Ribosome binds to mRNA, start codon recognized
  2. Elongation: tRNA brings amino acids, peptide bonds formed
  3. Termination: Stop codon reached, ribosome dissociates

  
• How many standard amino acids are there?

  20 standard amino acids
• What distinguishes essential amino acids from nonessential ones?

  Essential must be obtained from diet
• What are the categories of amino acids based on their side chains?

  • Charged Polar
  • Uncharged Polar
  • Nonpolar
  • Cyclic
  • Sulphur containing
• What supports the theory that all life on Earth descended from a single ancestor?

  The genetic code is nearly identical across life
• What are the three non-standard amino acids mentioned?

  1. Selenocysteine
  2. Pyrrolysine
  3. N-Formylmethionine
• How are non-standard amino acids incorporated into proteins?

  • Post-translational modifications
  • Unique synthetic mechanisms
• What is the three-letter symbol for Alanine?

  Ala
• What is the one-letter symbol for Glycine?


  G
• What is the three-letter symbol for Tryptophan?

  Trp
• What is the one-letter symbol for Lysine?

  K
• How can you memorize amino acid symbols?

  • Unique first letters for one-letter symbols
  • Phonetic suggestions for some amino acids
• What is the one-letter symbol for Phenylalanine?

  F
• What is the three-letter symbol for Serine?

  Ser
• What is the one-letter symbol for Arginine?


  R
• What is the three-letter symbol for Glutamic acid?


  Glu
• What is the one-letter symbol for Threonine?

  T
• What is the three-letter symbol for Cysteine?

  Cys
• What is the one-letter symbol for Valine?


  V
• What is the three-letter symbol for Isoleucine?

  Ile
• What is the one-letter symbol for Methionine?

  M
• What is the three-letter symbol for Leucine?

  Leu
• What is the three-letter symbol for Asparagine?

  Asn
• What is the one-letter symbol for Tryptophan?

  W
• What is the one-letter symbol for Glutamine?


  Q
• What is the three-letter symbol for Aspartic acid?

  Asp
• What is the one-letter symbol for Glutamic acid?

  E
• What is the three-letter symbol for Histidine?

  His
• What is the one-letter symbol for Serine?


  S
• What is the three-letter symbol for Tyrosine?

  Tyr
• What is the one-letter symbol for Arginine?


  R
• What is the three-letter symbol for Threonine?

  Thr
• What is the one-letter symbol for Valine?


  V
• What is the three-letter symbol for Tryptophan?

  Trp
• What is the one-letter symbol for Phenylalanine?

  F
• What is the one-letter symbol for Isoleucine?

  I