Protein Structures Flashcards
Provide an example of a cell signalling hormone
Insulin - generated after eating and binds to the insulin receptor to signal cells to take up glucose. Insulin is a hormone
Provide examples of enzymes involved in digestion
Trypsin - enzyme that breaks down proteins during digestion. It is a protease, because it breaks down proteins.
Amylase - enzyme that breaks down starch into sugars.
Provide examples of enzymes involved in metabolism
Alcohol Dehydrogenase - an enzyme that helps metabolise ethanol. enzymes catalyse biochemical reactions.
Hexokinase - an enzyme that adds a phosphate to glucose, after glucose is taken up by the cell. Kinases are enzymes that usually add phosphate to molecules.
Haemoglobin - binds oxygen in the lungs and carries it in the blood to tissues used for metabolism
Membrane proteins (ATP Synthase) - generates ATP for use in cellular functions
Provide an example of an enzyme involved in immune protection
Antibody - antibodies bind antigens found on cellular invaders like bacteria and viruses. Antibodies binding to antigens can help protect the body from infections
Provide examples of enzymes involved in replication and maintenance
DNA polymerase - binds to one strand of DNA and adds the complementary strand to it
RNA polymerase - creates a single strand of RNA that is complementary to one of the strands of duplex DNA
What does the tertiary structure of a protein do?
Determine what the protein does
What are three ways that are commonly used to determine the atomic structure of proteins?
- Protein crystallography
- Cyro-electron microscopy
- NMR spectoscopy
How can enzymes be used to prevent the binding of things like SARS-CoV2?
The spike protein on the SARS-CoV2 is what binds to cells, so by using protective antibodies to target this protein, we can block the SARS-CoV2 from binding.
