Proteins Flashcards
What are proteins?
Organic molecules composed of amino acids.
What are organic compounds?
Compounds that contain the element carbon.
What are amino acids?
The building blocks of proteins; amino acids compose proteins.
What are some of the uses for proteins?
- Acting as enzymes.
- Structure.
- Transport.
- Regulation of cell activity.
- Defense in your lymphatic system.
- Acting as hormones.
- Acting as receptors to bind hormones to target cells.
How many types of amino acids are there?
20.
Throughout all the different types of amino acid, what is the one element that changes?
The R group. Only the R group changes throughout the numerous amino acids. The other elements, carbon atom, hydrogen atom, an amino group, and the carboxyl group stay the same.
How many levels are there in the structure of a protein?
4.
1. The Primary Structure
2. The Secondary Structure
3. The Tertiary Structure
4. The Quaternary Structure
What is the primary structure of a protein?
The simplest structure of proteins composed of a chain of amino acids.
What is the secondary structure of a protein?
The second level of organization of proteins where some of the amino acids within a single polypeptide chain form into special structures, such as an alpha helix or a beta sheet.
What is the tertiary structure of a protein?
The third level of organization of a protein, the overall structure of one entire amino acid chain.
What is the quaternary structure of a protein?
The most complex level of protein structure where the tertiary structure of several amino acid chains are bonded together.
Amino acids in a chain are called what?
A polypeptide chain.
A polypeptide chain is held together by what?
Peptide bonds.
How do peptide bonds work?
Every amino acid has an amino group and a carboxyl group so that the amino group of the first amino acid will bond to the carboxyl group of the second amino acid to form a peptide bond, and so on.
What is a polypeptide chain?
A chain formed when three or more amino acids join together?
What is a peptide bond?
A type of bond that joins amino acids together.
How is the secondary structure of a protein formed?
It forms when the polypeptide chain folds or twists.
How is the tertiary structure of a protein formed?
It forms when the polypeptide chain starts to twist and fold even more, producing the overall 3d shape of a single polypeptide chain.
If a protein has only one polypeptide chain, it can only what?
It can only form the first three structures of a protein.
If a protein has more than one polypeptide chain, it can do what?
The polypeptide chains can come together to form the quaternary structure of proteins.
How is the quaternary structure formed?
It forms when you have two or more polypeptide chains that are held together. After the polypeptide chain has been twisted and folded, than twisted and folded more, it is going to combine with other chains. Those other chains are all going to be bonded together.
What does nonpolar mean?
Does not dissolve easily in water.
What is a lipid?
An organic molecule made up of fatty acids, which is nonpolar, and does not dissolve easily in water.
How many side chains can a glycerol molecule have?
3.
What is fat?
A lipid made of a glycerol molecule and at least one fatty acid side chain.
If a molecule has at least one fatty acid for a side chain, the molecule is what?
A fat.
