137k views
0 votes
Which of the amino acids would be best fit for the binding site of trypsin?

1) Alanine
2) Glycine
3) Serine
4) Aspartic Acid

User Thenlie
by
8.0k points

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

Trypsin is specific for basic amino acids. None of the provided options (Alanine, Glycine, Serine, Aspartic Acid) are ideal for trypsin binding, as trypsin targets amino acids like lysine and arginine that have basic side chains.

Step-by-step explanation:

The protein-digesting enzyme trypsin is known for its specificity towards basic amino acids, such as lysine and arginine, due to the chemical nature of its binding site. In this context, the suitability of an amino acid for the trypsin binding site depends on its side chain properties. Among the options provided, aspartic acid is not the correct fit since trypsin targets basic amino acids, not acidic ones. Alanine and glycine are neutral and would not best fit the specificity of trypsin. Serine, while not typically a target for trypsin, has a side chain capable of forming hydrogen bonds and can participate in enzyme catalysis. However, for the particular case of trypsin, which prefers basic side chains, serine is not the best fit either. The optimal choice for trypsin's binding site would be an amino acid with a basic side chain, such as arginine or lysine, which are not listed in the provided options.

User Fahim Babar Patel
by
6.9k points