MCAT Question of the Day
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    Q:

    		 F = kQq / εr2 where ε is the dielectric constant of a non-vacuum medium. Media of higher polarity have higher dielectric constants. Consider a protein in a solution of water. Two oppositely-charged amino acid residues of the protein are located 10 Angstroms apart, while a typical hydrogen bond has a length of 1.5-3.0 Angstroms. Which of the following scenarios would be predicted by the given information? Assume the distance between the amino acid residues and their respective charges remain constant in each scenario.
    		 

    A

    		 The force pulling together the amino acid residues would increase if the residues were found on the surface of the protein than if they were found on the inside of the protein.

    B

    		 The force pulling together the amino acid residues would decrease if the residues were found on the surface of the protein than if they were found on the inside of the protein.

    C

    		 The force pulling together the amino acid residues would reverse direction (to push the residues apart) if the residues were found on the surface of the protein than if they were found on the inside of the protein.

    D

    		 The force pulling together the amino acid residues would remain unchanged if the residues were found on the surface of the protein than if they were found on the inside of the protein.



    Protein Structure and Function | Quantitative Skills |
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