protein introduction

Question 1

what are proteins?

Answer 1

proteins are a chain of amino acids that have a variety of functions reflected by the wide structural properties of

Question 2

name some functions of a protein

Answer 2

-Recognition of specific molecules including hormones, antibodies and DNA binding proteins
-Movement of other molecules like porins which sit on the outer membrane of bacteria that allows diffusion
-structural functions like the cytoskeleton which holds everything together in the cell
- Enzymes which speed up a rate of a chemical reaction

Question 3

what are proteins joined into?

Answer 3

polypeptide chains

Question 4

what are short chain proteins called?

Answer 4

peptides
(less than 50 amino acids)

Question 5

what are native/ folded proteins

Answer 5

The final folded form which is a thermodynamically stable

Question 6

Define a secondary protein structure

Answer 6

Regular repeating structures which are stabilised by hydrogen bonds

Question 7

what is an alpha helix structure?

Answer 7

hydrogen bonds between amino (+) and carboxyl (-) groups of amino acids 4 residues apart

Question 8

What is a beta sheet structure

Answer 8

Hydrogen bonds between amino and carboxyl group of amino acids further away from each other in the primary sequence on different strands

Question 9

what is a quaternary protein structure?

Answer 9

when polypeptides come together to form a more complex structure with two or more subunits

Question 10

what is phosphorylation

Answer 10

Reversible addition of phosphate (PO3) group by enzymes called kinases.
This is an important way of regulating enzyme function.