Protein Structure Flashcards
What are the two common covalent bonds between amino acids?
peptide bonds and disulfide bonds
What are peptide bonds?
link amino acids together in a polypeptide
What are disulfide bridges?
between thiols in cysteine R-groups
What is a peptide bond formed between?
carboxyl group of one amino acid to the alpha-amino group of another
What is the backbone of the polypeptide?
N-C-C-N-C-C pattern
What is an individual amino acid called in a polypeptide chain?
residue
Which terminus is always written first in a polypeptide? Which is written last?
first = amino-terminal
last = carboxy terminal
What is proteolysis?
hydrolysis of a protein by another protein
What is the enzyme that performs proteolysis?
protease or proteolytic enzyme
What role does a disulfide bridge play?
stabilizing the tertiary structure
What does it mean for a protein to be denatured?
disruption of a proteins shape without breaking peptide bonds
How can proteins be denatured?
urea, extreme temperatures, extreme pH, and changes in tonicity
What is primary structure of protein folding also known as?
sequence
What bond determines the primary structure of protein folding?
peptide bond
What determines the secondary structure of protein folding?
hydrogen bonds between the NH and CO backbones of polypeptides
