Proteins + enzymes Flashcards
What re the functional groups of amino acids
- amino group
- R group
- carboxyl group
What is the R group
- variable functional group that changes depending on the type of amino acid
How are dipeptides made?
- condensation reaction
- peptide bond formed
- chemical reaction joining two amino acids with a peptide bond forming a dipeptide and releasing a water molecule
What are the similarities between all dipeptides
- all contain carboxyl group
- all contain amino group
- all have two R groups
- all contain C and H and N and O
What is the role of proteins
Enzymes - These proteins are used to breakdown and synthesise molecules
Antibodies - These proteins are involved in the immune response.
Transport - Some proteins can move molecules or ions across membranes.
Structural components - Proteins like keratin and collagen are used to create strong fibres.
Hormones - Some of these are proteins that act as chemical messengers in the body.
Muscle contraction - Muscles are made up of proteins.
Describe the structure of an amino acid
- central carbon
- amino group (NH2)
- carboxyl group (COOH) opposite the amino group
- R group opposite hydrogen
What are the different structures of proteins?
- primary
- secondary
- tertiary
- quaternary
Describe the primary structure
- sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide
- bonded by covalent peptide bonds
- DNA of a cell determines the primary structure of a protein
- specific for each protein (one alteration in the sequence of amino acids can affect the function of the protein)
describe the secondary structure
- interactions between localised sections of polypeptide chain
- 2 chains: alpha helix and beta pleated sheets
- held in place by hydrogen bonds
describe the hydrogen bonds in a secondary structure
- weak negatively charged nitrogen and oxygen atoms interact with the weak positively charged hydrogen atoms to form hydrogen bonds
- can be broken by pH and temp
Describe alpha helix structure
- hydrogen bonds form between every fourth peptide bond
- between the oxygen of the carboxyl group and the hydrogen of the amine
Describe beta pleated sheet structure
- when the protein folds so that two parts of the polypeptide chain are parallel to each other
- enabling hydrogen bonds to form between parallel peptide bonds
Describe tertiary structure
- overall 3D shape of polypeptide
- Further conformational change of the secondary structure
- additional bonds forming between the R groups (side chains)
- shape varies in the 20 amino acid structures that determine function
- bonds: hydrogen, ionic, hydrophobic interactions, disulphide bridges
what are disulphide bridges?
- occurs between cysteine amino acids
- type of covalent bond
- R group has SH group -> sulphur atoms are bonded and hydrogen atoms are lost
- strong and broken by reducing agents (chemicals)
what are hydrophobic interactions?
- between non polar R groups
- hydrocarbons are hydrophobic (R groups have hydrocarbons) amongst amino acids
- very weak + easily broken
what is a quaternary structure?
- made of >1 polypeptides chain
- formed by interactions between polypeptides
- work together as a functional macromolecule
- each individual polypeptide chains refer to as subunit
bonds: hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen, ionic, disulphide bridges
what is ionic bond here?
- Ionic bonds form between positively charged (amine group -NH3+) and negatively charged (carboxylic acid -COO-) R groups
- Ionic bonds are stronger than hydrogen bonds but they are not common
- These bonds are broken by pH changes
What are globular proteins
- compact, water soluble, spherical
- formed form overall 3D folded structure into tertiary structure
- bc of non polar hydrophobic R groups oriented toward centre
- bc of polar hydrophilic R groups oriented towards aqueous surroundings
Explain the solubility property of globular proteins
- important physiological roles
- can be transported easily
- involved in metabolic processes
Explain the folding of the protein
- due to interactions between R groups
- have specific shapes
- enables important physiological roles
e.g. enzymes, immunoglobulins respond to specific antigens
What is a conjugated protein
- type of globular protein
- contains non polar component = prosthetic group
What is a prosthetic group
- non protein part of a protein molecule
- permanently attached to the molecule
- vital for normal functioning of molecule
what are the different types of prosthetic groups?
- lipids or carbohydrates combine with proteins -> lipoproteins or glycoproteins
- metal ions + molecules derived from vitamins can form prosthetic groups
what is haemoglobin
- conjugated protein, found in red blood cells
- transports oxygen from lungs to body tissues
What is the structure of haemoglobin
- made of 4 polypeptide chains (quaternary structure)
- 2 alpha globin, 2 beta globin
- has prosthetic group iron ion (Fe^+2) = called haem group
- one oxygen molecule bonds to each haem group (Each haemoglobin transports oxygen = maximises amount transported)
- haem group is able to reversibly combine with an oxygen molecule forming oxyhaemoglobin and results in the haemoglobin appearing bright red
what is insulin
- hormone made + secreted by pancreas
- helps maintain blood glucose levels
What is the structure of insulin
- 2 polypeptide chains: alpha and beta
- joined by disulphide links
explain the features of insulin
- shape allows it to specifically bind to receptors on cell membranes –> lower BGLs
- has hydrophilic R groups on outside –> soluble in water –> insulin can dissolve in blood + get transported round the body
Describe pepsin
- catalyses digestion of proteins
- found in stomach (Acidic env, low PH)
describe structure of pepsin
- primary structure, very few basic R groups
= prevents tertiary structure being impacted by low PH - tertiary structure kept stable by hydrogen bonds + disulphide links
why does enzymes get denatured at low PH
- bc of amino acids with basic R group
- basic group acts as base -> accepts Hydrogen ions –> becomes positively charged
- basic R group becomes +vely charges -> changes structure
- affects ionic and hydrogen bonds –> denature protein + alter function
What are fibrous proteins?
- long strands of polypeptide chains
- have repeating sequences of amino acids
- have long cross linkages due to hydrogen bonds
- have little or no tertiary structure
- amino acids have non polar R groups –> insoluble in water (suitable for structural roles)
- polypeptide chains form fibres –> tough and strong protein
Describe collagen
- forms strong fibres
- connective tissue sound in skin, tendons, ligaments, biomes, blood vessels
- found in artery walls to prevent vessels from from high pressure
- used to make tendons which connect muscle to bone = allows skeleton to move
- used to make bone
- provide structural support and stable and flexible and tough
what is the structure of collagen?
- formed from three polypeptide chains closely held by hydrogen bonds
- triple helix shape (not alpha helix)
- every 3rd amino acid in primary structure = glycine
Describe keratin role
- hard, strong
- makes up nails, horns, hooves, hairs, feathers
- protects epithelial cells
- strengthens skin + internal organs
- controls hrowth of epithelial cells
- maintains elasticity in skin
what is the structure of keratin
- primary structure = high amounts of of cysteine (amino acid sulfur)
- disulphide links between two polypeptide chains = hard + strong
- intertwined to form coils, join to make a-keratin / pleated sheets (beta pleated sheets)