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What property enables the residues of the amino acids serine, threonine, and tyrosine to be phosphorylated? a. They are polar. b. They are nonpolar. c. They contain a hydroxyl group. d. They occur more frequently in the amino acid sequence of signaling proteins

Short Answer

Expert verified
c. They contain a hydroxyl group.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the question

The question asks for the property that allows the amino acids serine, threonine, and tyrosine to be phosphorylated.
02

Review amino acid properties

Serine, threonine, and tyrosine are amino acids which can be phosphorylated. Each of them has specific side chains that can be targeted for this type of modification.
03

Identify key functional group

Phosphorylation involves the addition of a phosphate group to an amino acid. For an amino acid to be phosphorylated, it must have a functional group that can participate in this reaction.
04

Check each option

To determine the correct answer: a. Polar: Yes, they are polar but that's not the specific reason they can be phosphorylated.b. Nonpolar: Incorrect, they are polar amino acids.c. Contain a hydroxyl group: Serine, threonine, and tyrosine all contain hydroxyl (–OH) groups in their side chains which makes them suitable for phosphorylation.d. Occur frequently in signaling proteins: This might be true in some contexts but it's not the fundamental reason for their phosphorylation.
05

Choose the correct answer

Based on the analysis, the correct answer is option c, as the hydroxyl group is the key functional group that allows these amino acids to be phosphorylated.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Functional Groups in Amino Acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and each one has a unique side chain, or R group, that gives it specific properties. These side chains can include different functional groups, like hydroxyl groups, amine groups, carboxyl groups, and more. The functional group of an amino acid plays a crucial role in its behavior and reactivity. For example, in the context of phosphorylation, the presence of certain functional groups in the side chains of amino acids like serine, threonine, and tyrosine makes them suitable for this modification. The hydroxyl group (–OH) in these amino acids is particularly important because it acts as the site for phosphorylation.
Hydroxyl Groups
Hydroxyl groups are functional groups that consist of an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom (-OH). This group is highly polar due to the electronegativity difference between oxygen and hydrogen. In biochemistry, hydroxyl groups are important because they can participate in hydrogen bonding and are often involved in biochemical reactions, including phosphorylation. In amino acids like serine, threonine, and tyrosine, the hydroxyl group in their side chains enables them to undergo phosphorylation. The enzyme kinases facilitate this process by transferring a phosphate group from ATP to the hydroxyl group, modifying the function of the protein in which the amino acid resides.
Protein Modification
Protein modification is a process that alters the properties and functions of proteins. One common type is phosphorylation, which adds a phosphate group to an amino acid. This modification often occurs in response to external signals, helping the cell respond to various stimuli. Phosphorylation is reversible and can either activate or deactivate proteins, changing their activity, interactions, and location in the cell. It plays a crucial role in regulating metabolic pathways and cellular signaling networks. Serine, threonine, and tyrosine can be phosphorylated due to their hydroxyl groups, leading to significant changes in the protein's function and activity.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Thyroid hormone is a lipid-soluble signal molecule that crosses the membrane of all cells. Why would a cell fail to respond to the thyroid hormone? a. The M A P K cascade leading to cell activation is defective in the target cells. b. The DNA sequence it binds to underwent a mutation. c. There is no intra cellular receptor for thyroid hormone in the cell. d. The second messenger does not recognize the signal from the receptor.

What characteristics make yeast a good model for learning about signaling in humans? a. Yeasts are prokaryotes. They have a short life cycle, easy to grow, and share similarities with humans in certain regulating mechanisms. b. Yeasts are eukaryotes. They have a short life cycle, easy to grow, and share similarities with humans in certain regulating mechanisms. c. Yeasts are multi cellular organisms. They have a short life cycle, easy to grow, and share similarities with humans in certain regulating mechanisms. d. Yeasts are single celled organisms. They have a complex life cycle like that of humans and share similarities in regulating mechanisms.

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