Question

Find a table of side chain physics properties (this can be found in some of the references provided)

(a) What is the molecular volume of and Ala, a Lys, a Val? Is this value for just the side chain or for the whole amino acid? (what reference did you use?)
(b) Give me a definition of the pK of an acid or base (and the reference you used). (c) What amino acids have acidic side chains?

Answer 1

(a) molecular volume of Alanine = 92 A^o

      Lys = 171A^o

                                    Val =142A^o

This is the volume of the whole molecule.

Reference : http://www.proteinsandproteomics.org/content/free/tables_1/table08.pdf

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(b) pK = -log K

K is the equilibrium constant for proton release equilibrium of acid or proton capture equilibrium of base. This is valid for weak acid and weak bases which are not completely dissociated.

Aspertic acid and glutamic acid are acidic amino acid