Q.16.60 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

What type of interaction would you expect between the following in a tertiary structure?

a. threonine and glutamine

b. valine and alanine

c. arginine and glutamate

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

a. hydrophilic interaction

b. Van der Waals interaction 

c. hydrophilic interaction 

Part (a) Step 1: Given Information

threonine and glutamine 

Determining the type of interaction between threonine and glutamine 

Part (a) Step 2: Explanation

Threonine is a polar particle because of the presence of hydroxyl bunch -OH and glutamine is likewise a polar atom with a keto bunch (>C=O). As both amino acids have a polar gathering in them.

Hence they have hydrophilic interaction

Part (b) Step 1: Given Information

valine and alanine 

Determining the type of interaction between valine and alanine 

Part (b) Step 2: Explanation

As valine has an isopropyl moiety in its construction and alanine likewise does not have any polar particle in its design, just has a methyl bunch. In this way, both the amino acids are hydrophobic particles and have van der Waals interaction between them.

Part (c) Step 1: Given Information

arginine and glutamate 

Determining the type of interaction between arginine and glutamate 

Part (c) Step 2: Explanation

Arginine and Glutamate both are polar amino acids. The -NH group is present in Arginine while the -COOH bunch is present in Glutamate.

Hence in this way, both have hydrophilic interaction between them.