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Chapter 14: Problem 18

Why is an alteration of electrophoretic mobility interpreted as a change in the primary structure of the protein under study?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: An alteration in electrophoretic mobility is interpreted as a change in the primary structure of a protein because it indicates a potential change in the protein's size, shape, and/or charge, which are determined by its amino acid sequence. These changes can impact the protein's function, interactions with other molecules, and overall stability. By studying shifts in electrophoretic mobility, researchers can identify and characterize potential functional alterations within a protein as a result of changes in its primary structure.

Step by step solution

01

Introduction to Electrophoresis

Electrophoresis is a technique used to separate charged molecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids, based on their size and charge. It involves applying an electric field across a gel matrix, causing the molecules to migrate through the matrix at different rates depending on their individual properties.
02

Protein Structure

Proteins are made up of a sequence of amino acids, with each amino acid having a unique side chain. The primary structure of a protein refers to the linear sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain. This sequence determines the overall shape and function of a protein.
03

Role of primary structure in electrophoretic mobility

The electrophoretic mobility of a protein is determined by its size, shape, and charge. The primary structure affects all three of these characteristics. The size and shape of a protein are determined by the amino acid sequence, which dictates the length of the polypeptide chain and how it folds. The charge of a protein is influenced by the relative proportion of charged amino acids in the primary structure. Therefore, a change in the primary structure of a protein will likely result in a change in electrophoretic mobility.
04

Interpreting changes in electrophoretic mobility

Alteration of electrophoretic mobility is interpreted as a change in the primary structure of the protein because it indicates a potential change in size, shape, and/or charge of the protein. Such changes can impact the protein's function, interactions with other molecules, and overall stability. By studying shifts in electrophoretic mobility, researchers can identify and characterize potential functional alterations within a protein as a result of changes in its primary structure.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Contrast the roles of tRNA and mRNA during translation and list all enzymes that participate in the transcription and translation process.

Exon shuffling is a proposal that relates exons in DNA to the repositioning of functional domains in proteins. What evidence exists in support of exon shuffling? Two schools of thought have emerged concerning the origin of exons, "intron-early" and "intron-late." Briefly describe both theories and present support for each.

Knowing that the base sequence of any given messenger RNA is responsible for precisely ordering the amino acids in a protein, present two mechanisms by which intrinsic properties of mRNA may regulate the "net output" of a given gene.

What are isoaccepting tRNAs? Assuming that there are only 20 different aminoacyl tRNA synthetases but 31 different tRNAs, speculate on parameters that might be used to ensure that each charged tRNA has received the correct amino acid.

List as many different categories of protein functions as you can. Wherever possible, give an example of each category.
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