Problem 58 - Chemistry: The Central Science

Question

Write a chemical equation for the formation of methionyl glycine from the constituent amino acids.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The chemical equation for the formation of methionyl glycine from methionine and glycine is: \(CH_3-S-(CH_2)_2-CH(NH_2)-COOH + NH_2-CH_2-COOH \rightarrow CH_3-S-(CH_2)_2-CH(NH_2)-CO-NH-CH_2-COOH + H_2O\)

Step 1: 1. Identify the constituent amino acids

Firstly, we need to identify the constituent amino acids that constitute methionyl glycine. Those are: 1. Methionine (abbreviated as Met or M) 2. Glycine (abbreviated as Gly or G)

Step 2: 2. Write the structural formula for the constituent amino acids

Next, we need to write the structural formula for these amino acids. 1. Methionine: CH3-S-(CH2)_2-CH(NH2)-COOH 2. Glycine: NH2-CH2-COOH

Step 3: 3. Form the dipeptide by creating a peptide bond

To form the dipeptide methionyl glycine, we need to create a peptide bond between the carboxyl group (-COOH) of methionine and the amino group (-NH2) of glycine. In the process, a molecule of water will be released. The peptide bond is formed when the -OH of the carboxyl group of methionine and the H of the amino group of glycine are eliminated, creating a bond between the C of the methionine's carboxyl group and the N of glycine's amino group.

Step 4: 4. Write the chemical equation for the formation of methionyl glycine

Now we can write the chemical equation for the formation of methionyl glycine from methionine and glycine: CH3-S-(CH2)_2-CH(NH2)-COOH + NH2-CH2-COOH -> CH3-S-(CH2)_2-CH(NH2)-CO-NH-CH2-COOH + H2O In this chemical equation, methionine and glycine combine to form methionyl glycine, and a molecule of water is released as a by-product.