Janelle N. Ruiz Assignment 2

Assignment II

Part II: Biochemistry

• Question 1: What are the differences in the amino acid sequences of the proteins produced by the alleles you define in Part I? Hint: use the Compare menu to find the difference(s)between the amino acid sequences.

Allele Protein Structures

• Green:Met-Ser-Asn-Arg-His-Ile-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-Trp-Arg-Gln
• Blue:Met-Ser-Asn-Arg-His-Ile-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-Cys-Arg-Gln
• Yellow:Met-Ser-Asn-Arg-His-Ile-Leu-Leu-Val-Trp-Cys-Arg-Gln
• Red:Met-Ser-Asn-Arg-His-Ile-Leu-Leu-Val-Phe-Cys-Arg-Gln
• White:Met-Ser-Asn-Arg-His-Ile-Leu-Leu-Val-Val-Cys-Arg-Gln

The differences in the amino acid sequences are found at position 10 and 11.

• Question 2: What features of the amino acid sequence make a protein pigmented?

The properties of amino acid side chains make a protein pigmented as well as the sequence of the amino acids which make up the protein. How a protein is structured (i.e. its amino acid sequence) will ultimately determine how and to what degree it is able to reflect and absorb specific wavelengths of light and therefore its percieved pigment.

• Question 3: What features of the amino acid sequence make a protein a particular color?

The differences in color between different proteins depends upon its amino acid sequences as explained above. The particular pigment which is reflected by a given protein will likely be determined by the amount and interaction between aromatic amino acid side chains.

1. How do the colors combine to produce an overall color? How does this explain the genotype-phenotype rules you found in part (I)?
2. Which proteins are found in each of the four starting organisms?
3. Using this knowledge, construct a purple protein.

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Links

BIOL398-01/S10:Week 2

Format

• allele
• color
• amino acid sequence (highlight differences)