Module 2 Flashcards
Molecular Motor
A protein that uses ATP to produce cyclic conformational changes.
Ex: Myosin, Kinesin
Muscle Fiber
Myofiber
Muscle Cell
Myosin
A motor protein that comprises the thick filaments of sarcomeres.
Myosin forms thick filaments that (along with thin filaments) mediate muscle movement via myofiber contraction.
Actin
A protein that polymerizes within muscle cells to form the major component of thin filaments.
Actin polymers form thin filaments (that mediate muscle movement via myofiber contraction) and microfilaments (that are critical components of the cytoskeleton).
What molecular action leads to muscle contraction?
Myosin Conformational Change
How many subunits does Myosin contain?
Six Subunits
- Two Heavy Chains
- Four Light Chains (2 Regulatory Chains + 2 Essential Chains)
Myosin Subunit Interactions
- Two light chains are bound to each heavy-chain “head” (at the heavy-chain “neck”).
- Two heavy chain “tails” coil around one another (as extended α-helices).
- Heavy-Chain “Head” = N-Terminus of Subunit
- Heavy-Chain “Tail” = C-Terminus of Subunit
Which region of the Myosin molecule serves as an ATPase?
Myosin Head
Which region of the Myosin molecule binds to the thin filament?
Myosin Head
The actin-binding domain of the Myosin molecule binds to the thin filament to initiate muscle contraction.
Length: Thick Filament
~ 325 nm
G-Actin vs. F-Actin
- G-Actin: Monomer of Actin
- F-Actin: Polymer of Actin (Comprised of Polymerized G-Actins)
- G-Actin = Globular Actin
- F-Actin = Filamentous Actin
G-Actin
A monomer of Actin comprised of 375 amino acids.
F-Actin
A filamentous polymer of Actin comprised of numerous G-Actin subunits.
The polymerization of Actin requires ATP.
Titin
A large protein that imparts flexibility to the sarcomere and connects the Z disk to the thick filament.
Muscles contract when ____________________.
thick filaments and thin filaments slide past one another.
The cyclical attachment, detachment, and reattachment of Myosin to thin filaments causes muscular contraction.
How does Ca2+ control muscle contraction?
The binding of Ca2+ ions to Troponin induces a Troponin/Tropomysin conformational change that exposes Myosin-binding sites on Actin.
- Relaxed Muscle: Myosin-binding sites on Actin are blocked by Tropomyosin.
Muscle Contration Cycle
5 Steps
- The binding of Ca2+ ions to Troponin induces conformational changes that expose Myosin-binding sites on Actin.
- The binding of Myosin and release of Pi induces a power stroke to pull the thin filament across the thick filament.
- The release of ADP from the Myosin head empties the nucleotide-binding sites on Myosin.
- The binding of ATP to the Myosin nucleotide-binding site causes Myosin to dissociate from the thin filament.
- The hydrolysis of ATP on Myosin induces the “recovery” position of the Myosin head.
5 Major Functional Classes of Proteins
- Metabolic Enzymes
- Structural Proteins
- Transport Proteins
- Cell-Signaling Proteins
- Genomic Caretaker Proteins
Metabolic Enzymes
Enzymes
Proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions involved in energy conversion pathways (e.g. the synthesis/degredation of macromolecules).
- Enzymes are NOT consumed during a chemical reaction.
- Enzymes increase the reaction reate without altering the equilibrium concentration of products and reactants.
How is an enzyme able to increase the rate of product formation?
An enzyme lowers the activation energy of a reaction.
Active Site (Enzymes)
The region of an enzyme where the catalytic reactions take place.
The shape and chemical environment of enzyme actives sites are determined by amino acid side chains.
Examples: Metabolic Enzymes
- Malate Dehydrogenase
- Pyruvate Dehydrogenase
- Phophofructokinase–1
- Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase
- Thymidylate Synthase
Examples: Structural Proteins
- Actin
- Tubulin
Structural Proteins
Proteins that function as the architectural framework for individual cells, tissues, and organs.
Structural proteins are the most abundant proteins in living organisms.
Cytoskeletal Proteins
Structural proteins that are responsible for cell shape, cell migration, and cell signaling.
Ex: Actin, Tubulin
Thin Filament
An Actin polymer that forms part of a network to control cell shape, cell migration, and muscle contraction.
Intermediate Filaments
A type of cytoskeletal protein complex that is critical to cell structure and cell function.
Ex: Vimentin, Laminin, Keratin
Transport Proteins
Proteins that span the width of a cell membrane and allow polar/charged molecules to enter/exit the cell.
The two classes of membrane transport proteins are passive transporters and active transporters.
Passive Transporter
Passive Tranport Protein
A membrane transport protein that allows specific molecules to enter/exit the cell while moving down their concentration gradient.
Ex: Porins, Ion Channels
Active Transporter
Active Transport Protein
A membrane transport protein requiring energy to induce protein conformational changes that open/close a gated channel (and pump molecules against their concentration gradient).
- Active transporters obtain energy from either ATP hydroylsis or ionic gradients.
- Ex: Ca2+-ATPase
Types of Cell-Signaling Proteins
- Membrane Receptors
- Nuclear Receptors
- Intracellular Signaling Proteins
Membrane Receptor
A transmembrane protein that changes conformation upon binding of a cognate ligand molecule.
Ex: Erythropoietin Receptor (Growth Hormone Receptor); Insulin Receptor (Receptor Tyrosine Kinase); Adrenergic Receptors (G Protein-Coupled Receptor)
Nuclear Receptor
A transcription factor that regulates gene expression in response to ligand binding.
Ex: Glucocorticoid Receptor, Vitamin D Receptor, Estrogen Receptor, Progesterone Receptor
Intracellular Signaling Protein
A protein that functions as a molecular switch by undergoing conformational changes in response to incoming signals (e.g. receptor activation).
E: Protein Kinases, Phosphatases, Intermolecular Adaptor Proteins, Site-Specific Proteases
Genome Caretaker Proteins
Proteins that function to ensure the integrity of genomic DNA throughout a cell’s lifespan.
Ex: DNA Synthesis Enzymes, DNA Repair Enzymes, DNA Recombination Enzymes, RNA Synthesis Enzymes
Myoglobin
A monomeric globular transport protein concentrated in muscle tissue that functions in Oxygen storage.
Hemoglobin
A tetrameric globular transport protein that transports Oxygen from the lungs to the tissues via the circulatory system.
Hemoglobin is the major protein in red blood cells (i.e. accounts for 35% of the cells’ dry weight).
Heme
An Fe2+ porphoryin complex that functions as a prostethic group to bind Oxygen.
The Fe ion must be in the 2+ oxidation state for Oxygen binding to occur.
Structure: Myoglobin vs. Hemoglobin
- Myoglobin: Single Polypeptide w/ 1 Heme Group
- Hemoglobin: Four Polypeptides w/ 4 Heme Groups
- Less than 20% of amino acids are identical between Myoglobin and Hemoglobin.
- Myoglobin and Hemoglobin share the globin fold conformation.
Structure: Hemoglobin
- Two α-Subunits + Two β-Subunits (Each Possess 1 Heme Group)
- Dimer of Heterodimers (α1β1 + α2β2) = Heterotetramer
- Eight α-Helices (Globin Fold) per Subunit
Globin Fold
A protein folding pattern that contains eight α-helices.
Ex: Myoglobin, Hemoglobin
How many coordination bonds does the Heme Fe2+ possess?
Six
- Four coordination bonds are with Nitrogens in the plane of the porphyrin ring.
- One coordination bond is above the plane of the porphyrin ring.
- One coordination bond is below the plane of the porphyrin ring.
Proximal Histidine
His F8
A Histidine residue in globin proteins that coordinates with the Fe2+ of the porphyrin ring (either above or below the plane of the ring).
Distal Histidine
His E7
A Histidine residue in globin proteins that forms a hydrogen bond with O2 (when O2 is bound to the porphyrin ring) to stabilize its intereaction with the Heme group.
How does O2 bind to the globin protein Heme group?
The O2 forms a coordination bond with the Fe2+ of the porphoryin ring (either above or below the plane of the ring).
Conformation: Bound O2 vs. Unbound O2
Heme Group of Globin Proteins
- Unbound O2: The Heme group is puckered (i.e. Fe2+ is NOT in the plane of the porphyrin ring) because of the larger Fe2+ ionic radius.
- Bound O2: The Heme group is planar (i.e. Fe2+ IS in the plane of the porphyrin ring) because of the smaller Fe2+ ionic radius.
The binding of O2 to the Heme group moves His F8 (and the entire F Helix) toward the Heme group.
Why is the binding of O2 to Heme Fe2+ reversible?
The structural changes of Hemoglobin/Myoglobin under different physiological conditions results in altered affinities for O2.
Equation: Protein-Ligand Binding
P = Protein
L = Ligand
PL = Protein-Ligand Complex
Association Constant
Ka
An equilibrium constant for the binding of two molecules (e.g. a protein and a ligand to form a protein-ligand complex).
Units: M–1
Equation: Protein-Ligand Ka
Dissociation Constant
Kd
An equilibrium constant for the dissociation of two molecules (e.g. a protein-ligand complex unbinding to yield a protein and a ligand).
Units: Kd
Equation: Protein-Ligand Kd
The Kd is the inverse of the Ka equation.
What does a higher Kd value indicate?
A lower affinity between the two molecules (i.e. more of the dissociated protein and ligand are present).
A lower Kd value indicates a higher affinity between the two molecules.
What does the Kd value represent?
The ligand concentration at which 50% of potential ligand binding sites are occupied.
Kd: [L] at θ = 0.5