For an amino acid such as aspartic acid, what impact do you expect the two neighboring carboxylic acids to have on the pka values for each?

Question

Biology

Lorena Heath

9 January, 02:51

For an amino acid such as aspartic acid, what impact do you expect the two neighboring carboxylic acids to have on the pka values for each?

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Answers (1)

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Kadence Cross · Answer 1

Answer;

The acid with the lower pKa value would increase the pKa value for the other acid

Explanation;

-There are two amino acids that have acidic side chains at neutral pH. These are aspartic acid or aspartate (Asp) and glutamic acid or glutamate (Glu). Their side chains have carboxylic acid groups whose pKa's are low enough to lose protons, becoming negatively charged in the process.

-Aspartic Acid is a non-essential amino acid in humans, Aspartic Acid has an overall negative charge and plays an important role in the synthesis of other amino acids and in the citric acid and urea cycles.