IonizationofBiologicalMolecules.pptVIP

* Ionization of Biological Molecules This tutorial extends the concepts of acid-base chemistry by showing that [H+], i.e., the pH of a solution, affects biological functions by regulating the ionization of biological molecules. Ionization of organic molecules feeds into many aspects of biological phenomena. Amino acids must have a neutral charge in order to penetrate cell membranes. Protein structure is stabilized by close proximity of positive and negative charges on neighboring amino acid side chains. Nucleic acids derive their acid character from ionized phosphate groups. Fatty acids acquire their property as detergents by ionization of carboxyl groups. The concept of ionization is vast and encompasses all the categories of biomolecules. In this tutorial we will focus on molecules whose positive or negative character, indeed biochemical properties, depend on pH. What is Ionization? Ionization refers to creating positive and negative charges on molecules. Negative charges arise by dissociating protons from groups bearing oxygen or sulfur atoms (click 1). Positive charges are created by acquiring protons on groups containing nitrogen (click 1). With the exception of phosphate, all the groups shown are present in amino acids. It will be to your advantage to know these groups for future reference. C O OH C O O Carboxyl P O O O RO H H P O O O RO H Phosphate R-SH R-S Sulfhydryl HO O Phenolic NH3 Tertiary amine + N N H + H Imidazole H2N C NH2 NH- + Guanidinium Click to go on pK and Ionization The pK of an acid or ionizable group gauges when a proton will be picked up or released by the group. By definition, the pK is the value for the pH when half of the total are protonated, which of course, infers half-ionized. To illustrate, consider the ionization of a carboxyl group (click 1). When pH = pK, half the molecules are R-COOH and the other half are R-COO-. Acidic protons are displaced by water molecules. Because the reaction is reversible, dissociatio