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Multiple Choice
Which of the following amino acid pairs can form a salt bridge?
A
Cysteine – methionine
B
Serine – glutamine
C
Valine – isoleucine
D
Lysine – glutamate
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of a salt bridge: A salt bridge in proteins is a type of non-covalent interaction between oppositely charged side chains of amino acids, typically involving an acidic and a basic amino acid.
Identify the functional groups involved: Acidic amino acids like glutamate have a carboxylate group (-COO-), while basic amino acids like lysine have an ammonium group (-NH3+).
Examine the given amino acid pairs: Check if any pair consists of one acidic and one basic amino acid, which is necessary for forming a salt bridge.
Analyze the pair Lysine – glutamate: Lysine is a basic amino acid with a positively charged side chain, and glutamate is an acidic amino acid with a negatively charged side chain.
Conclude that Lysine – glutamate can form a salt bridge due to the electrostatic attraction between the positively charged ammonium group of lysine and the negatively charged carboxylate group of glutamate.