Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biochemistry4h 34m
2. Water3h 23m
3. Amino Acids8h 10m
4. Protein Structure10h 4m
5. Protein Techniques14h 5m
6. Enzymes and Enzyme Kinetics13h 38m
7. Enzyme Inhibition and Regulation 8h 42m
8. Protein Function 9h 41m
9. Carbohydrates7h 49m
10. Lipids5h 49m
11. Biological Membranes and Transport 6h 37m
12. Biosignaling9h 45m
Review 1: Nucleic Acids, Lipids, & Membranes2h 47m
Review 2: Biosignaling, Glycolysis, Gluconeogenesis, & PP-Pathway3h 12m
Review 3: Pyruvate & Fatty Acid Oxidation, Citric Acid Cycle, & Glycogen Metabolism2h 26m
Review 4: Amino Acid Oxidation, Oxidative Phosphorylation, & Photophosphorylation1h 48m

3. Amino Acids

Amino Acid Groups

Biochemistry

3. Amino Acids

Amino Acid Groups

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Multiple Choice

How many distinct pKa values would you expect for the amino acid aspartic acid?

One

Four

Three

Two

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Verified step by step guidance

Understand the structure of aspartic acid: Aspartic acid is an amino acid with a central alpha carbon bonded to an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), a hydrogen atom, and a side chain containing a second carboxyl group (-CH2-COOH).

Identify the ionizable groups in aspartic acid: The amino group (-NH2), the alpha carboxyl group (-COOH), and the side chain carboxyl group (-CH2-COOH) are all ionizable and can contribute distinct pKa values.

Recall the concept of pKa: The pKa value represents the pH at which a specific ionizable group is 50% protonated and 50% deprotonated. Each ionizable group in aspartic acid will have its own pKa value.

Determine the number of distinct pKa values: Since aspartic acid has three ionizable groups (amino group, alpha carboxyl group, and side chain carboxyl group), it will have three distinct pKa values corresponding to these groups.

Verify the reasoning: Compare this understanding with other amino acids that have similar structures and ionizable groups to confirm that aspartic acid indeed has three distinct pKa values.