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stth0901 stth0901
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10 years ago
Under certain conditions, the R-groups of aspartic acid and lysine can form an ionic bond with one another.  The pK1 for the ionizing groups on these side chains is 3.86 and10.53 respectively.

A.  Draw the dominant structure of each of these amino acid side chains at pH3.  Indicate whether an ionic bond an form between these amino acid side chains at pH3.

B.  Draw the dominant structure of each of these side chains at pH8.  Indicate whether an ionic bond can form.

I am wondering how exactly to do this..  The process isn't thoroughly explained in my textbook, and my professor is no help.  I don't necessarily need the answer, just an explanation of how to go about this.
Source  Becker's World of the Cell
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10 years ago
To get you started 0 Rightwards Arrow

For a molecule having more than two ionizable groups, the pI is approximately equal to the average of the relevant pair of pK's. For example, aspartic acid has three pK's with the following values:

pK1=2.0
pK2=3.9
pK3=10.0



The relevant pair of pK's are pK1 and pK2. At the pH corresponding to the average of these two pK's, the amino group is fully ionized, and the two carboxylates are partially ionized. Thus, the pI of aspartate is as follows:

pIAsp = 1/2(2.0 + 3.9) = 3.0
Would you know my name, if I saw you in heaven?

Eric Clapton
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