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Biology Problem Set: Gecko Adhesion, Amino Acids, Membrane Proteins, and Enzymes - Prof. J, Assignments of Biology

This problem set covers various topics in biology including the unique adhesion mechanism of geckos, the properties of amino acids, the behavior of membrane proteins, and the functions of enzymes. Students are expected to identify the transmembrane domain in a given polypeptide sequence, understand the advantages of van der waals interactions for geckos, determine the types of microscopes with dichroic mirrors, explain lateral diffusion mechanisms of membrane proteins, and identify samples based on their cholesterol and fatty acid content.

Typology: Assignments

Pre 2010

Uploaded on 03/16/2009

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Biology 52: Problem Set for Lectures 3 and 4
1. The gecko is a reptile that has the amazing ability to climb smooth surfaces -
even glass. Recent discoveries indicate that geckos stick to smooth surfaces via
van der Waals interactions between septae on their feet and the smooth surface.
2. Below is a standard table of the amino acids, and the sequences of a short
polypeptide that has one transmembrane domain.
D acidic A nonpolar
E acidic G nonpolar
R basic V nonpolar
K basic L nonpolar
H basic I nonpolar
N polar P nonpolar
Q polar F nonpolar
S polar M nonpolar
T polar W nonpolar
Y polar C nonpolar
MKRENDSDNHIALVVLSWLAIEGGLTAFFGFEDNIKELDNK
Underline the predicted transmembrane domain in the polypeptide above.
When not selling car insurance, geckos have
climb smooth surfaces.
(a) How is this method of stickiness
advantageous to the gecko over covalent
interactions?
(b) Given that van der Waals forces are
among the weakest molecular interactions,
how can the gecko's feet stick so
effectively?
pf2

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Biology 52: Problem Set for Lectures 3 and 4

  1. The gecko is a reptile that has the amazing ability to climb smooth surfaces - even glass. Recent discoveries indicate that geckos stick to smooth surfaces via van der Waals interactions between septae on their feet and the smooth surface.
  2. Below is a standard table of the amino acids, and the sequences of a short polypeptide that has one transmembrane domain. D acidic A nonpolar E acidic G nonpolar R basic V nonpolar K basic L nonpolar H basic I nonpolar N polar P nonpolar Q polar F nonpolar S polar M nonpolar T polar W nonpolar Y polar C nonpolar MKRENDSDNHIALVVLSWLAIEGGLTAFFGFEDNIKELDNK Underline the predicted transmembrane domain in the polypeptide above. When not selling car insurance, geckos have climb smooth surfaces. (a) How is this method of stickiness advantageous to the gecko over covalent interactions? (b) Given that van der Waals forces are among the weakest molecular interactions, how can the gecko's feet stick so effectively?
  1. In what kinds of microscopes would you find a dichroic mirror?
  2. Explain two ways that we know many membrane proteins can diffuse laterally in the plasma membrane in cells.
  3. You are a biochemist studying the properties of cell membranes across species of birds from around the world. The labels come off of two tubes: the first is a penguin sample (from Antarctica) and the second is from a macaw (a parrot that lives in tropical South America). As a part of your analysis, you quantitate the amount of cholesterol, saturated, and unsaturated fatty acids present in both of the membrane samples. How would you use this information to identify which samples came from which bird and why?
  4. An enzyme that adds phosphate to a protein is called a __________. An enzyme that removes phosphate from a protein is called a ___________.