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Amino Acids Practice Quiz

March 21, 2016 By Leah4sci 12 Comments

pka amino acids table

Amino acids are a big deal on the MCAT. You can’t simply ‘get’ the concept. You must be able to quickly recall information and apply them to questions. The quiz below will help you figure out if you’ve mastered this topic. The questions are simple but thorough. You either know it, or you don’t! Be sure […]

Filed Under: Amino Acids Tagged With: amino acid, amino acids, biochemistry, mcat, MCAT quiz, practice quiz, quiz

Amino Acids MCAT Cheat Sheet Study Guide

May 7, 2015 By Leah4sci 15 Comments

mcat-amino-acids-Cheat-Sheet-preview

When it comes to amino acids on the MCAT you have to know… everything. But everything quickly gets overwhelming. And after a quick search I didn’t find any good amino acid charts so I’ve decided to create one for you. Download a copy to your computer and another to your phone. When you find yourself […]

Filed Under: Amino Acids, MCAT Cheat Sheet, MCAT Guides Tagged With: amino acids, mcat cheat sheet

Amino Acid Charge in Zwitterions and Isoelectric Point MCAT Tutorial

June 11, 2015 By Leah4sci 32 Comments

glycine protonated and deprotonated

Knowing how to find both charge and isoelectric point for amino acids is a critical MCAT skill. Understanding why an amino acid will gain or lose a proton at a given pH is even more critical. The MCAT is a test of logic and understanding, which is why this article will break down amino acid […]

Filed Under: Amino Acids Tagged With: amino acid charge, isoelectric point, pi, zwitterion

Amino Acids 3 Polar Acidic and Basic Side Chains

March 7, 2016 By Leah4sci 1 Comment

Polar Acidic and Basic Amino Acids tutorial video by Leah Fisch

Hydrophilic amino acids are much more reactive and interactive compared to hydrophobic side chains. This video breaks down the hydrophilic amino acids including polar neutral, acidic and basic side chains. (Watch on YouTube: Polar/Acidic/Basic Amino Acids. Click cc on the bottom right for video transcript) Referenced in this video: Acid Base Tutorial Series Zwitterion Tutorial […]

Filed Under: Amino Acids

Amino Acids 2 Hydrophobic Non-Polar Side Chains

March 3, 2016 By Leah4sci 3 Comments

Hydrophobic Amino Acids Polar Neutral Side Chains Tutorial Video Leah Fisch

Hydrophobic amino acids have neutral non-polar side chains. Given the lack of polarity these groups have no means to interact with an aqueous biological environment. This video breaks down each of the hydrophobic amino acids to help you understand the name, 1 and 3 letter abbreviations, and side chain functional groups. (Watch on YouTube: Hydrophobic […]

Filed Under: Amino Acids Tagged With: amino acids

Gabriel Malonic Ester Synthesis of Alpha Amino Acids

June 8, 2016 By Leah4sci 1 Comment

Gabriel Malonic Ester Alpha Amino Acid Synthesis Tutorial Video

Gabriel Malonic Ester Synthesis is the second AAMC required reaction for the synthesis of alpha amino acids. As the name implies, this reaction utilizes Gabriel Amine Synthesis and Malonic Ester Synthesis, but with a twist. This video shows you the reaction overview followed by a step by step breakdown of important mechanism steps. (Watch on […]

Filed Under: Amino Acids Tagged With: amino acids

Strecker Synthesis of Amino Acids

June 14, 2016 By Leah4sci 1 Comment

Strecker Synthesis of Alpha Amino Acids MCAT Tutorial Video

Strecker Synthesis is one of the first laboratory methods for synthesizing an alpha amino acid. Strecker synthesis starts out with a nucleophilic addition of nitrogen to an aldehyde followed by a SECOND nucleophilic addition of cyanide (nitrile group) to the imine intermediate. This video walks you through the overall reaction followed by a step by step […]

Filed Under: Amino Acids Tagged With: amino acids, mcat

Peptide Charge and Isoelectric Point Shortcut

June 20, 2016 By Leah4sci Leave a Comment

Peptide charge and isoelectric point pI tutorial video

Charge and isoelectric point of peptides are determined by the individual amino acids. Both the backbone groups (N and C terminus) and the individual side chains. The previous video showed you how to find the charge and pI of individual amino acids. This tutorial shows you how to find them for a group of amino […]

Filed Under: Amino Acids Tagged With: amino acids, peptide

Isoelectric Point of Amino Acids with MCAT shortcut

June 14, 2016 By Leah4sci 8 Comments

Amino Acid Isoelectric Point Calculation Tutorial Video

Isoelectric point calculations are critical in your biochemistry course and MCAT prep. The isoelectric point or pI gives you the pH at which the molecule has a net zero charge. This comes from a balance of protonation and deprotonation so that all positive and negative charges cancel out. This video shows you how to calculate […]

Filed Under: Amino Acids Tagged With: amino acids, isoelectric, pi

Zwitterion and Amino Acid Charge Tutorial Video

June 14, 2016 By Leah4sci 2 Comments

Zwitterion and Amino Acid Charges given pH pKa tutorial video

Amino acids exist as zwitterions at physiological pH. A zwitterion by definition is a molecule with 2 (zwitter) ions, one positive and one negative for a net zero charge. This video shows you how to quickly calculate amino acid charge at any given pH by helping you recognize when a given side chain is protonated or […]

Filed Under: Amino Acids Tagged With: amino acid, zwitterion

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