Proteins Flashcards
What are some of the functions of proteins?
Enzymes, neurotransmitters, hormones, antibodies, transport, cell structure
What are the monomers of proteins?
Amino acids
Which elements are amino acids made from?
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Some also have sulphur.
What do we call two amino acids joined together?
A dipeptide
What do we call a long chain of amino acids?
A polypeptide
What are the four main parts of an amino acid?
Amino group, Alpha carbon (with H attached), Carboxyl group, Variable ‘R’ group
Which part of an amino acid is variable?
The ‘R’ group
How many different amino acids are there?
20
Amino acids can be joined together with which type of bond?
A peptide bond
Describe a peptide bond
A bond between two amino acids, between the nitrogen in the amine group of one amino acid and the carbon in the carboxyl group of the next
What type of reaction would form a peptide bond?
Condensation reaction (that releases water)
What type of reaction would break a peptide bond?
Hydrolysis reaction (that releases water)
What is the primary structure of a protein?
The sequence or order of amino acids in a polypeptide
Which bonds hold together the primary structure of a protein?
Peptide bonds
The function of a protein is determined by?
its shape