AAMC Section Bank B/BC #21

[xxabi]

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The question asks about an amino acid substitution for the conserved residue at position 64 of IN (intergrase). In the answer (which is glutamate), it states that the conserved residue at position 64 of integrase is Asp, which has a negatively charged side chain, which is why Glutamate is the answer (as it also has a negatively charged side chain).

My question is - where in the passage does it indicate that the conserved residue at position 64 of integrase IS an aspartate? Are we just supposed to know that the conserved residue at position 64 is Asp?

 

[Formation]

From the passage:

"The CCD contains three highly conserved residues (D64, D116, and E152), and mutation of any of these three residues abolishes IN activity."​

D64 indicates the amino acid D (Aspartate, Asp) in position #64.

 

[aldol16]

You must know both the three- and one-letter codes.

 

[xxabi]

Thanks so much to the both of you! I definitely know both three-letter and one letter- codes, I had no idea that that's what the "D" meant, I feel so silly now! Thanks for clarifying!