Home >
Community >
Why does acetyl have negative charge?
Upvote
31
Downvote
+ Electronegativity
+ Biochemistry
Posted by
Aaronthal Weapon Systems
Why does acetyl have negative charge?
The acetyl group itself does not have any significant charge. But the residue that gets acetylated is lysine in this case, which has a positive charge. The acetylation results in a neutral amide, removing the positive charge.
I'd add that the effect of histone acetylation is likely more subtle than just the charge effect. This kind of posttranslational modification often affects the protein structure in some way, or is recognized by other proteins interacting with that site.
The acetyl group itself does not have any significant charge. But the residue that gets acetylated is lysine in this case, which has a positive charge. The acetylation results in a neutral amide, removing the positive charge.
I'd add that the effect of histone acetylation is likely more subtle than just the charge effect. This kind of posttranslational modification often affects the protein structure in some way, or is recognized by other proteins interacting with that site.
The acetyl group itself does not have any significant charge. But the residue that gets acetylated is lysine in this case, which has a positive charge. The acetylation results in a neutral amide, removing the positive charge.
From Wikimedia Commons
I'd add that the effect of histone acetylation is likely more subtle than just the charge effect. This kind of posttranslational modification often affects the protein structure in some way, or is recognized by other proteins interacting with that site.
The acetyl group itself does not have any significant charge. But the residue that gets acetylated is lysine in this case, which has a positive charge. The acetylation results in a neutral amide, removing the positive charge.
From Wikimedia Commons
I'd add that the effect of histone acetylation is likely more subtle than just the charge effect. This kind of posttranslational modification often affects the protein structure in some way, or is recognized by other proteins interacting with that site.
More
VOTE