In: Biology
1. Draw a 4 AA residue generic polypeptide with R groups (R, no specific AA required) - label clearly.
a. the peptide bond
b. one pair of H bond donor and H bond acceptor
c. outline one amide plane
d. label phi and psi for one junction
e. using your drawing, explain why peptide bonds are nearly always trans
g. label the amino terminus and carboxy terminus
2. What information does the Ramachandran plot provide and what are its implications for protein folding?
1.
In most cases, the peptide bonds in proteins are trans because the steric clashes that occur between groups attached to the alpha carbon atoms in cis form hinder formation of this configuration.
2. The Ramachandran plot provides an easy way to view the distribution of torsion angles in a protein structure. It also provides an overview of excluded regions that show which rotations of the polypeptide are not allowed due to steric hindrance.
Torsion angles most important local structural parameters that control protein folding. If Ramachandran angles for a particular protein is predicted, its fold will also be predicted.