KH 03 Flashcards
What are proteins?
Linear polymers of amino acids joined by peptide bonds. For this reason, proteins are sometimes referred to as
polypeptides.
Proteins are made by translation of _____ transcribed from
genomic ___.
mRNAs, DNA
What is the basic biological point of DNA and RNA?
To allow the synthesis of proteins, which carry out the physical and chemical function of cells.
How long are the smallest proteins?
About 40 amino acids long
How long is the average protein?
About 300 to 400 amino acids in length
What is the longest known protein and how long is it?
Titin and it’s about 30 000 amino acids long
What is the primary structure?
The specific sequence of amino acids in a protein
Proteins fold into definite 3D structures depending on the _____ of
amino acids.
sequence
What are the functions of a protein determined by?
It’s overall shape (i.e., specific folding pattern driven by amino acid sequence) and the distribution throughout that overall shape of the
amino acid side chains with their distinctive chemical properties.
What are the 2 major classes of amino acid side chains?
Hydrophilic and hydrophobic
What is a hydrophilic amino acid side chain?
A side chain that has a polar electronic charge distribution and therefore interacts with the polar water (can also be neutral)
What is a hydrophobic amino acid side chain?
A side chain that has a non-polar electronic charge distribution and therefore does not interact with the polar water
What is the hydrophobic effect?
Water molecules surrounding hydrophobic molecules dispersed in water adopt a constrained, cage-like organization (low entropy). If hydrophobic molecules combine, the total number of low entropy, constrained water molecules is reduced, and this net increase in entropy ultimately drives the formation of separate hydrophobic and aqueous phases. Combination of hydrophobic molecules also favored by weak non-covalent van der Waals intermolecular interactions. Furthermore, there is a tendency for hydrophobic molecules to stay together because it’s more efficient to make a cage of 2 things that are together than to make 2 cages individually.
Hydrophilic side chains like to be _____ the protein and be near water.
outside
Hydrophobic side chains like to be _____ the protein and be far from water.
inside
What is a conformation?
The three-dimensional arrangement of side groups on a molecule which can freely rotate into different positions without breaking any bonds.
Secondary and tertiary structures determine the path of the _____ _____ through space and hence, the overall shape of the molecule.
peptide backbone