Protein Structure & Function

Question 1

AMINO ACIDS:

Polypeptides

Answer 1

long chain of amino acids (proteins), that are folded to a 3D functional shape

Question 2

AMINO ACIDS:

Proteome

Answer 2

The set of proteins expressed by an organism at given time

Question 3

AMINO ACIDS:

What are the main structures of an amino acid?

Answer 3

• A carboxyl group (COOH)
• An amino group (NH2)
• An R-group/side chain
• A central carbon atom that is bonded to a hydrogen atom

Question 4

AMINO ACIDS:

What is the reaction and bond called?

Between two adjacent amino acids

Answer 4

A condensation reaction causes the formation of peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids

Question 5

PROTEIN STRUCTURE:

What is the primary structure, and how will the final product be affected if this structure is changed?

Answer 5

1. The sequence (order) of amino acids in a polypeptide chain
2. Changes to the original sequences can result in misfolding and a nonfunctional protein as a change in the primary structure = change in amino acid sequence, causes different hydrgen bonds to occur, leading to different secondary structure

Question 6

PROTEIN STRUCTURE:

What is secondary structure; and how are these structures formed?

Answer 6

• amino acids arrangement into
  1. alpha-helices
  2. beta-pleated sheets
  3. random coils

Formed from the folds and coils by formation of hydrogen bonds between an amino acid’s different sections in the polypeptide chain

Question 7

PROTEIN STRUCTURE:

What is the tertiary structure?

Answer 7

the overall functional 3D shape of a protein; a protein must have a minimum of tertiary structure to be functional

Question 8

PROTEIN STRUCTURE:

What is the quaternary structure?

Answer 8

the bonding of multiple (two or more) polypeptide chain together; not all proteins have this structure