2.4 Proteins Flashcards
What is one of the central ideas in biology?
Structure dictates function
Polypeptides vary hugely in:
the # and combination of amino acids that they are composed of
How are amino acids linked together? What do they form?
Amino acids are linked together by condensation to form polypeptides
What is a protein?
Polymer made of amino acid sequence
What are polypeptides?
molecule consisting of (>20) amino acids
How many polypeptides do proteins contain
some proteins contain one polypeptide other contain 2+ polypeptides
What does a condensation reaction involve?
Amine group of one amino acid and the carboxyl group of another
Two amino acids can create
a peptide bond, forming a dipeptide
What is released as a byproduct of condensation?
Water
What is a Dipeptide
2 amino acids joined together
what is an oligopeptide
chains of 3-20 amino acids
What is a polypeptide
chains of >20 amino acids
describe structure of insulin
a small protein the contains two polypeptides (one with 21 amino acids and the other with 30 amino acids)
Hemoglobin is made up of
is made up of 4 polypeptides (2 alpha- 2 beta)
Titin
- Largest polypeptide discovered
- contains 34,350 amino acids in humans
- Part of muscle structure
What are ribosomes and what do they do?
Ribosomes are the molecules within cells that facilitate the formation of peptide bonds and hence where polypeptides are synthesized
How many amino acids are used by ribosomes to make polypeptides?
20 different amino acids
what is Hydroxyproline an example of
An amino acid that is modified after the polypeptide is synthesized
Can amino acids be modified after a polypeptide is synthesized? (example)
yes, ex: hydroxyproline
Hydroxyproline is a modification of the amino acid
proline
What does this modification of proline do?
Increases the stability of the collagen triple helix
Collagen
A structural protein used to provide tensile strength in tendons, ligaments, skin, and blood vessels.
What is the amino acid sequence of polypeptides coded by?
genes
Living organisms-
only produce a small fraction of the possible polypeptides that could be produced
A typical cell produces polypeptides with
thousands of different sequences and stores the information to produce these within genes (DNA)
The DNA sequences is tr__
transcribed to messenger RNA which brings this genetic code to the ribosomes
Describe The central dogma of genetics
DNA is a gene
RNA is a message
Polypeptide is the product
DNA is transcribed in the nucleus to make RNA
RNA is translated in the cytoplasm t make the polypeptide
What does the amino acid sequence determine?
The dimensional conformation of a protein
What are polypeptides?
Chains of amino acids joined by peptide bonds
Describe each amino acid group and its unique properties:
- Some are hydrophilic (polar)
- Some are hydrophobic (non-polar)
- Some are + or - charged (acidic - , basic+)
- Some contain sulfur (systene)
What do the unique properties of amino acids determine?
They determine how a polypeptide folds into a protein
What are proteins commonly described as in nature?
Fibrous or globular
What are the possible properties of fibrous and globular proteins
Shape, role, solubility, sequence, stability, examples
List all properties of fibrous proteins
Long and narrow, structural (strength and support) Generally insoluble in water Repetitive amino acid sequence Less sensitive to heat and pH changes Collagen, myosin, fibrin, actin, keratin, elastin
List all the properties of globular proteins
Rounded / spherical functional (catalytic, transport) Generally soluble in water Irregular amino acid sequence more sensitive to changes in heat, pH Catalase, Haemoglobin, insulin, immunoglobin
How are globular proteins soluble?
Hydrophobic R-groups are folded into the core of the molecule away from the surrounding water molecules
Why are fibrous proteins insoluble?
Hydrophobic r-groups are exposed
Name all the functions of proteins
Catalysis, cell adhesion, clotting, cytoskeleton, muscle contraction, tensile strengthening, transport of nutrients and gases (blood), membrane transport, hormones., receptors, packing DNA, immunity.
Catalysis
There are thousands of different enzymes to catalyze specific chemical reactions within the cell or outside it (ex: rubisco)
Muscle contraction
Actin and Myosin together cause the muscle contractions used in locomotion and transport around the body
Cytoskeleton
Tubulin is the subunit of microtubules that give animals cells their shape and pull on chromosomes during mitosis.
Tensile Strengthening
Fibrous proteins give tensile strength needed in skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessel walls (ex: collagen)
Blood clotting
Plasma proteins act as clotting factors that cause blood to turn from a liquid to a gel in wounds
Transport of nutrients and gases
Proteins in blood help transport oxygen, carbon dioxide, iron, and lipids
Cell Adhesion
Membrane proteins cause adjacent animal cells to stick to each other within tissues
membrane transport
Membrane proteins are used for facilitated diffusion and active transport, and also for electron transport during cell respiration and photosynthesis
Hormones
Some such as insulin, FSH, and LH are proteins, but hormones are chemically diverse
Receptors
Binding sites in membranes and cytoplasm for hormones neurotransmitters, tastes and smells, and also receptors for light in the ye and in plants (ex: Rhodopsin)
Packing of DNA
Histones are associated with DNA in eukaryotes and help chromosomes to condense during mitosis.
Immunity
This is the most diverse group of proteins, as cells can make huge numbers of different antibodies (ex: immunoglobulins)
Examples of how biotechnology has allowed us to use proteins in industry:
Enzymes for removing stains in clothing detergent
Monoclonal antibodies for pregnancy tests
Insulin for treating diabetics
Disease treatments
List examples of the range of protein functions
Rubisco, Insulin, Immunoglobulins, Rhodopsin, Collagen, Spider silk
Rubisco
Used in cellular respiration, catalyzes the first reaction in carbon fixation
Insulin
- A hormone that is carried + dissolved in the blood and binds to insulin receptors in the membranes of body cells (lowers glucose levels)
- The pancreas of type I diabetics don’t produce sufficient insulin therefore they must periodically inject synthetically produced insulin to correct their blood sugar concentration.
Immunoglobulins
Also known as antibodies
binds to antigens
Rhodopsin
A pigment in the retina of the eye
absorbs light in low-light conditions
Collagen
Strucutural protien
3 polypeptides form rope like conformation
Gives strength to tendons, ligaments, skin, and blood vessel walls.
Forms part of teeth and bones, helps to prevent cracks and fractures to bones and teeth
Spider Silk
Structural/fibrous protein
Dragline silk is stronger than steel and tougher than kevlar
Very high tensile strength and become stronger when stretched.
What forms a Proteome
Genomes and environmental factors
Describe a genome
All of the genes of a cell, tissue, or an organism. The genome determines what proteins an organism can possibly produce. A genome is unique to most individuals except identical twins and clones. (Variable)
Describe environmental factors
The environment influences what proteins an organism needs to produce and in what quantity. Example factors would be temperature, nutrition, activity levels.
Describe a Proteome
All of the proteins produced by a cell, tissue, or organism.
- Because its a function of both the genome and the environment to which the organism is exposed, the proteome is both variable (over time) and unique to every individual (including identical twins and clones).
- It reveals what is happening in an organism at a particular time. (FIXED)
What stabilizes the 3-d conformation of proteins?
The 3-d conformation of proteins is stabilized by the bonds or interactions between R groups of amino acids within the molecule
How are the bonds and interactions between R-groups of amino acids?
Most of the bonds/interactions are relatively weak and can be disrupted or broken.
What is denaturation?
Change to the conformation of the protein
Can a denatured protein return to its former structure?
Denaturation is permanent, so it can not return to its former structer.
What happens to soluble proteins in denaturation?
Soluble proteins often become insoluble and form a precipitate
Name and explain 2 things that cause denaturation
Heat can cause denaturation: vibrations within the molecule breaks the intermolecular bonds or interactions
Extremes of pH can cause denaturation: charges on R groups are changed, breaking ionic bonds within the protein or causing new ionic bonds to form.
What is the optimum pH for Pepsin denaturation
1.5
What are white smokers?
A particular kind of hydrothermal vent which produces very hot carbon dioxide gas. These vents can be found deep in oceans and produce tempratures in excess of 100 degrees C, but life can still be found around them
What are thermophiles?
Organisms (often archea of eubacteria) that live in relatively hot conditions (45 to 122 degrees C)
-In order to survive, their proteins are stable at the higher than normal temperatures they experience