MCAT Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems Question of the Day
Daily challenge for MCAT Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems. Test yourself and track progress.
Drain cleaners are a common household staple, used to open clogged drains in bathtubs and sinks. Human hair is a common culprit that clogs pipes, and hair is made predominately of protein. Drain cleaners are effective at breaking down proteins that have accumulated in plumbing. Drain cleaners can be either acidic or basic, and are also effective at breaking down fats that have accumulated with proteins.
A typical reaction—reaction 1—which would be expected for a drain cleaner on contact with human hair, would be as follows in an aqueous solution:
Another reaction that may occur, reaction 2, would take place as follows in an aqueous solution:
In the proteins depicted in both reactions in the preceeding passage, which portions of the molecule are shown?
I. Amino terminus
II. Carboxy terminius
III. Side chain