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Chapter 4: Problem 11

Describe the stereochemical aspects of the structure of cystine, the structure that is a disulfide-linked pair of cysteines.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The stereochemical aspects of cystine involve its disulfide linkage between the sulfur atoms of two Cysteine residues, providing stability to the protein structure, and its chiral centers at alpha carbons allowing the existence of L and D isomers.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Stereochemistry

Stereochemistry is a subfield of chemistry that involves the study of the spatial arrangement of atoms in molecules and their effects on the physical and chemical properties of substances.
02

Description of Cystine Structure

Cystine is formed from two cysteine residues through a disulfide bond. Disulfide bonds occur when two cysteine residues in a polypeptide chain come into proximity and produce an oxidation reaction, resulting in the linking of two sulfurs.
03

Explain Stereochemical aspects of cystine

The stereochemical aspects of cystine revolve mainly around its disulfide bond which occurs between the sulfur atoms of two cysteine residues. This bond is a covalent bond which provides stability to the protein structure. Furthermore, its chirality centers, the alpha carbons (adjacent to the carboxyl group) of the cysteine residues, also play a crucial role in its stereochemistry. These chiral centers permit the existence of L and D isomers, contributing to the range of three-dimensional structures proteins can adopt.

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