Question 20.5: Identify the type of noncovalent interaction that occurs bet......
Identify the type of noncovalent interaction that occurs between the side chains of the following amino acids and show the interaction using structural representations for the side chains.
a. Serine and asparagine
b. Glutamic acid and lysine
a. Both serine and asparagine are polar neutral amino acids (see Table 20.1). The side chains of such amino acids interact through hydrogen bonding. A structural representation for this hydrogen bonding interaction is:
b. Glutamic acid and lysine have, respectively, acidic and basic side chains (see Table 20.1). Such side chains carry a charge, in solution, as the result of proton transfer. The interaction between the negatively charged acidic side chain and the positively charged basic side chain is an electrostatic interaction. A structural representation for this electrostatic interaction is:
