Final answer:
The Asp-Ala-His peptide at pH 7.5 is represented as a zwitterion, with the aspartic acid side chain negatively charged, the histidine side chain positively charged if protonated, and alanine neutral. The N-terminus is positively charged, and the C-terminus is negatively charged.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked to draw the structure of aspartyl alanyl histidine (Asp-Ala-His) in the ionic form that predominates at pH 7.5. At this pH, the aspartic acid (Asp) side chain would have lost its proton, giving it a negative charge, while the histidine (His) side chain can carry a positive charge due to the protonation of its imidazole ring. Alanine (Ala), however, does not carry a charge at this pH. The amino N-terminus of the peptide would be protonated and carry a positive charge, while the carboxyl C-terminus would be deprotonated and carry a negative charge, resulting in the compound overall being a zwitterion.
Amino acids at physiological pH typically exist in their zwitterionic form, with the amino group carrying a positive charge and the carboxyl group carrying a negative charge. However, side chain pKa values influence whether side chains are charged or neutral. For Asp-Ala-His, at pH 7.5, Aspartate's side chain (COOH) loses a proton to become negatively charged (COO-), and Histidine's side chain (with a pKa close to 6) can accept a proton on its imidazole ring to become positively charged. Alanine's side chain remains neutral due to its non-ionizable methyl group.