PHSL 410B Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Edman Degradation, Protein Folding, Sequence Database
Document Summary
Describe coupling: coupling is when you add together an energetically favored reaction (-dg) with an energetically unfavored reaction (+dg) to give an overall (-dg), which is thermodynamically favored and drives the unfavorable reaction towards product formation. Describe resonance: resonance is when there are sharing of electrons between the carbonyl oxygen and the amide nitrogen. In a sense, both bonds are part single and part double bond. This is because when resonance occurs, sharing of electrons is occurring. This allows for the double bond to be longer than expected and single bond shorter than expected. Resonance allows for a rigid and planar configuration. This restricts free rotation around the c-n bond and limits bond rotation around the alpha carbon. Exothermic v. endothermic reactions: the activation energy is the minimum amount of energy required for a reaction to occur (this breaks the bonds). The addition of a catalyst will have a lower activation energy which speeds up the rate of the reaction.
