Infection and immunity - Biochemistry Flashcards
What are proteins?
Polymers of amino acids
List the functions of proteins
- Structure
- Metabolism
- Gene regulation
- Signalling
- Development
Draw the basic structure of an amino acid and label the components
All amino acids occur as two isomers, D or L, except for one. Which amino acid is it?
Glycine
Describe the role of ribosomes
Protein biosynthesis machine
What is the roleof mRNA
Conatins information
What is the role of tRNA
Carries the amino acids
Describethe 3 stages of protein synthesis
- Initiation - Ribosome and initiation factors assemble at start codon AUG
- Elongation - Amino acids joined together to form a polypeptide
- Termination - By stop codons UAA, UAG, UGA on mRNA
What is the start codon?
AUG
What are the stop codons?
UAA, UAG, UGA
The genetic code is degenerate, universal and non-oberlapping. Explain what these terms mean
Degenerate - more than one triplet can code for the same amino acid
Universal - Amino acids are the same in all organisms
Non-overlapping - The genetic code is read as a triplet
What bond is formed between amino acis to form proteins? Decsribe how this happens
Peptide bond
Formed when amino acids are joined together in a condensation reaction and water is removed (from carboxyl and amine group)
The peptide bond is planar. What does this mean?
The atoms can arrange themselves around the central molecule. The rotation of adjacent peptidebonds is only allowed at N-C and C(central)-C
Name the hierachies of protein structure
- Primary structure
- Secondary structure
- Tertiary structure
- Quatenary structure
Describe the primary structure of proteins
- Sequence of amino acids
- It is determined by the DNA sequence
Describe the secondary structure of proteins including their bonding and their configuration
Alpha helix
- Rod like structure: polypeptide chain tightly coilded, amino acid side chains extending outwwards from the helix axis
- Stabilised by H-bonds: backbone amine (NH) and carbonyl (CO groups, 4 residues away aling th change
- Configuration: right-handed (clockwise) coiled, 3.6 amino acids per turn
Beta-pleated sheet
- Zigzag structure: C-C bonds are tetrahedral so cannot exist in planar configuration
- Stabilisded by H bonds: backbone (NH) and carboxyl (CO) groups, between different parts of the chain or between different chains
- Configuration: You can have parallel beta-sheet (polypeptide chain runs in the same direction) or Antiparellel beta-shhet (polypeptide chain runs in different directions)