Consider a protein in which a negatively charged glutamic acid side chain (pKa=4.2)(pKa=4.2) makes a salt bridge (ion-ion interaction) with a positively charged histidine side chain (pKa=6.5)(pKa=6.5).

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Chapter1: Biochemistry: An Evolving Science
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Consider a protein in which a negatively charged glutamic acid side chain (pKa=4.2)(pKa=4.2) makes a salt bridge (ion-ion interaction) with a positively charged histidine side chain (pKa=6.5)(pKa=6.5). Do only part B.

Part A
Do you predict that this salt bridge will become stronger, become weaker, or be unaffected as pH increases from pH = 6.9 to pH = 7.9?
The salt bridge will become stronger.
The salt bridge will become weaker.
The salt bridge will be unaffected.
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At pH = 6.9 the glutamic acid (Glu) side chain will carry a charge of ~ -1 (at 3 pH units above the pKa for Glu, the side chain will be almost fully ionized); whereas the
histidine (His) side chain will carry a charge of < +0.5 (at pH = pKa the charge on His would be +0.5; since pH = 6.9 is above its pKa, it will carry less (+) charge as it
becomes more deprotonated). As the pH increase to 7.9, the charge on Glu will remain ~ -1 and the charge on His will decrease; thus, this salt bridge is predicted to
become weaker as pH is raised from 6.9 to 7.9.
Part B
Justify your answer with calculations of partial charges on these amino acid side chains at pH = 6.9. (Hint: Consider lessons from Coulomb's law, and the Henderson-Hasselbalch
equation.)
Express your answers using two significant figures separated by a comma.
VE ΑΣΦ
0.0022,2.5
?
Transcribed Image Text:Part A Do you predict that this salt bridge will become stronger, become weaker, or be unaffected as pH increases from pH = 6.9 to pH = 7.9? The salt bridge will become stronger. The salt bridge will become weaker. The salt bridge will be unaffected. Submit Previous Answers Correct At pH = 6.9 the glutamic acid (Glu) side chain will carry a charge of ~ -1 (at 3 pH units above the pKa for Glu, the side chain will be almost fully ionized); whereas the histidine (His) side chain will carry a charge of < +0.5 (at pH = pKa the charge on His would be +0.5; since pH = 6.9 is above its pKa, it will carry less (+) charge as it becomes more deprotonated). As the pH increase to 7.9, the charge on Glu will remain ~ -1 and the charge on His will decrease; thus, this salt bridge is predicted to become weaker as pH is raised from 6.9 to 7.9. Part B Justify your answer with calculations of partial charges on these amino acid side chains at pH = 6.9. (Hint: Consider lessons from Coulomb's law, and the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation.) Express your answers using two significant figures separated by a comma. VE ΑΣΦ 0.0022,2.5 ?
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