Using three-letter abbreviations, show the six tripeptides that contain isoleucine, arginine, and valine.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the problem. A tripeptide is a molecule composed of three amino acids linked by peptide bonds. The order of the amino acids matters, so we need to consider all possible sequences of the three given amino acids: isoleucine (Ile), arginine (Arg), and valine (Val).
2. Step 2: Recall that the number of permutations of three distinct items is given by the factorial of the number of items, which is 3! (3 factorial). This means there are 6 possible arrangements of the three amino acids.
3. Step 3: Write out all possible permutations of the three amino acids using their three-letter abbreviations. These are: Ile-Arg-Val, Ile-Val-Arg, Arg-Ile-Val, Arg-Val-Ile, Val-Ile-Arg, and Val-Arg-Ile.
4. Step 4: Verify that each sequence is unique and includes all three amino acids exactly once. This ensures that no sequence is repeated and all combinations are accounted for.
5. Step 5: Present the six tripeptides in the required format: Ile-Arg-Val, Ile-Val-Arg, Arg-Ile-Val, Arg-Val-Ile, Val-Ile-Arg, Val-Arg-Ile.

Key Concepts

Amino Acids

Amino acids are organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins. Each amino acid has a specific structure, consisting of a central carbon atom, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a variable side chain (R group). Isoleucine (Ile), arginine (Arg), and valine (Val) are essential amino acids that play critical roles in protein synthesis and metabolic processes.

Tripeptides

Tripeptides are molecules formed by the linkage of three amino acids through peptide bonds. The sequence and composition of the amino acids in a tripeptide determine its properties and functions. In this context, tripeptides can be formed by combining isoleucine, arginine, and valine in various orders, leading to different structural and functional characteristics.

Peptide Bond Formation

Peptide bonds are covalent bonds that link amino acids together in a protein. This bond forms through a dehydration synthesis reaction, where the carboxyl group of one amino acid reacts with the amino group of another, releasing a molecule of water. Understanding peptide bond formation is essential for determining how to construct tripeptides from the specified amino acids.